We were once controlled by the prince of the power of the air, according to Ephesians 2:2-3. We lived in sin with no thought. We were born with a sin nature. We were programmed to sin.

I love verse 4 which says “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.” Salvation took us from the slave block of sin, to freedom in Christ. Our moment of acceptance, of Him as our Savior and Lord, transferred us from darkness to light.

Here is a new song entitled Extravagant Oil Of Joy. It birthed something new in me, especially the line, “…knowing Your joy as You behold me.” Each time I sing this song back to the Lord, it expands the walls of my heart afresh with awe.

Extravagant Oil of Joy

I lift my unveiled face to gaze into Your face. Face to face I behold You as You behold me. No veil separates us. No fear of being known. We have intimate communion. Our hearts are knit as one.

I stand O Lord in Your presence unashamed. All guilt is washed away. All condemnation is cleansed. Through the blood. Through the shed blood of Jesus.

With joy I lift my heart in song. A song that flows through me like a river. A song that cascades and rushes to be expressed. In pure worship knowing Your joy as You behold me.

O the wonder. The marvelous wonder and awe. All my sins are cleansed in the power of Your blood. Let my joy be a fragrance that delights Your heart O God. An extravagant oil poured upon Your feet in worship.

Do you see yourself through the eyes of the Lord? Do you drink in His Presence as He delights in beholding you? What amazing grace that we can dwell in His Presence. There is comfort to know and acknowledge that He knows every nook and cranny of my heart, yet embraces me in all of His fullness.

This takes us back to yesterday’s devotional. Are the things that He delights in our delight as well? I think of Mary. John 12:3 says, “Then Mary took a pound of verse costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”

What prompted Mary to expend something so valuable. Luke 10:38 says, “…Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” She drank in His Presence. Her heart was full of love for Him. She carried the fragrance of their intimate communion. Do you?

Psalm 107:9 says, “For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” Have you tasted His goodness? Jeremiah 31:14 says, “I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.” Satiate means to fill to the full.

JUST PUBLISHED THIS MORNING

Daily Insights: encouragement from my quiet time. Available now in paperback on Amazon. I’m working on the ebook. This is a 60 day devotional. It is a compilation of my Facebook devotionals from January-February 2022.

When we answer this question, we will see other ways we can partake of His nature. Here are some verses that speak about His desire, His pleasure, and some of the things that He delights in.

I pondered Isaiah 58:13-14 as I read it. What would my life look like to call the Sabbath a delight? The Amplified says, “If you turn away your foot from (traveling unduly on) the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a (spiritual) delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor Him and it, not going your own way or seeking or finding your own pleasure or speaking with your own (idle) words. Then will you delight yourself in the Lord…”

Psalm 147:11 Amplified says, “The Lord takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy.” Psalm 69:30-31 says, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.”

He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18). Those who deal truthfully (Proverbs 12:22). Pleasure in uprightness (1 Chronicles 29:17). Truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). A just weight (Proverbs 11:1). Blameless in their ways (Proverbs 11:20). Children obey their parents (Colossians 3:20). Prayer of the upright (Proverbs 15:8). Do good and share (Hebrews 13:16).

Jeremiah 9:24 says, “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness on the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.”

Hosea 6:6 says, “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Knowing Him through intimate communion is His desire and delight. We enter into His nature when we delight in the things that delight Him. The more time we spend with Him, we enter into His nature so that we also can reflect Him to others.

Here is the capstone that touches all. 2 Peter 3:9 Amplified says, “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.”

In all the above verses, I believe that He wants us to share in His utmost desire for all to be saved. We enter into His nature when we share Him with others. On June 27, 2021 I heard this and wrote it in the front of my Bible. All who know me would know Jesus.

We are absolutely dependent on the Lord. He is not dependent on anyone or anything. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God…” Psalm 90:1-2 says, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting. You are God.” 

This takes us back to many Scriptures. Psalm 86:8 says, “Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works.” Verse 10 says,  “For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.”

Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.” Psalm 2:4 continually declares His sovereignty over those who seek to oppose Him. It says, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.”

In the end, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 clearly sets the record straight—totally revealing His sovereignty once and for all. Verse 18 says, “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who puts all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

I love to think about His attribute of Self-Existent. It means that He has no barriers, no fences, and absolutely nothing that can limit Him in any way. When we partake of this part of His nature, we are hidden in all that He is at all times.

One day I was driving and had a full blown panic attack through a thought that flitted into my mind. I was in the left lane with trucks on my right. I had no place to get off. I felt like I was fighting for my life. I began rehearsing the Lord’s attribute of Self-Existent.

My whole trembling body came under that umbrella and calmed. I literally shared in His nature by seeing myself hidden inside the One who has no barriers or limitations. He not only sustained me, but kept me safe from harm or harming others through that unexpected attack.

He is Lord Over All. Psalm 97:9 says, “For You, Lord, are most high above all the earth; You are exalted far above all gods.” David was surrounded by Saul and his army. I often visit his words in Psalm 18. The whole Psalm speaks to and strengthens my spirit.

Verse 1-2 says, “I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” We could camp in each one of these attributes through our focused thoughts.

Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

Genesis 1:26 says that we are all made in God’s image. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

In A. W. Tozer’s book, “Knowledge Of The Holy” he wrote that there are attributes of God that are not known to us. Romans 11:33 says, “Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!”

Yet He reveals Himself to His children who love Him and keep His word. John 14:21 says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

He makes Himself known to us through our trials. Manifest, in the Greek, is two words “in” and “to cause to shine.” Defining words are: to appear, come to view, reveal, exhibit, make visible, present oneself to the sight of another, to declare, to make known.

1 Corinthians 2:9 says that our eyes have not seen, our ears have not heard, nor has our heart comprehended the things God has prepared for those who love Him. Verse 10 Amplified says “Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit…”

Paul went on to explain what the Holy Spirit does for us. “…the (Holy) Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound  and bottomless things of God (the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny).”

The Lord reveals His hidden attributes through our intimate communion with Him. His whispered words penetrate our heart. We gaze upon Him with unveiled faces. We behold Him as He beholds us.

Psalm 25:14 Amplified says, “The secret (of the sweet, satisfying companionship) of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its (deep, inner) meaning.”

It is communing with Him through His word that we learn about His unsearchable attributes. Think of a few ways He revealed Himself through His laws to His children Israel. Through David’s Psalm 19 we read various ways His word works in us.

Verse 7 says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Verses 8 through 11 states, they are right, pure, enlighten the eyes, true, righteous, and give us warning.

Our progressive sanctification is a journey into the heart of God. He meets us where we are, and leads us deeper in our communion with Him. He reveals Himself through ways we have not experienced Him before. Let nothing on this earth rival your intimate communion.

I woke up with this thought: No other gods before Me. It took me back to Isaiah 45. Verses 5, 6, 14, 18, 21, and 22 say that same thing. Verse 21 says, “…And there is no other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me.”

At salvation we were positionally and forever set apart for the Lord. No one and nothing else. That is our standing. Nothing can alter that truth. Yet our daily walk with the Lord is a journey of being kept continuously set apart for Him. There are ebbs and flows on our part.

When we choose to sin, we depart from our close fellowship. When we confess our sin, we are reunited in fellowship. That is the ebb and the flow. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Hiding God’s truth in our heart is an essential life skill for our progressive sanctification. It is the truth that we live in, and make our own, that brings inner transformation. Hebrews 13:21 says, “Make you complete in every good work to do His will…”

We depart from His process of conforming our will to His will through our thoughts first. All actions are based on our thoughts. His design in verse 21 continued, “…working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Picture His working His word into our heart through the eyes and actions of a potter. They first take the hard packed clay. It has to be softened with water and kneaded until it can be formed into a malleable ball.

That is just the beginning. While the wheel is spinning the potter adds more water, until it freely slips around their hands. Then they must apply intense pressure to center the clay. Until it is centered nothing useful can be formed. 

Hebrews 12:7 Amplified says, “You must submit to and endure (corrections) for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not (thus) train and correct and discipline?” Verse 10 says of this process, “…He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.”

2 Peter 1:4 says, “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” We embrace His centering processes by clinging to His promises, as we enter into His very nature through our thoughts. More on this tomorrow.

One way to trap a bird is to set out seeds on a path that leads right into the trap. At first they are wary. They will eat a seed and hop away. As they eat more seeds, their fear seems to leave as their appetite increases. They walk into the trap unsuspectingly.

That is how our enemy works. James 1:14 says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” We can embrace a great lesson from the life of Sampson.

In Judges 16:5 we find the words spoken by the Philistine fowlers (which speak of our flesh). “…Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him…”

What unmet desire is hidden in your heart that the enemy uses to entice you into his well planned out, camouflaged, and fleshly scented trap? Samson left God’s path and calling. in order to fulfill his fleshly desires. He unsuspectingly stepped right into the trap which cost him his life.

Purposeful goal oriented steps come from God’s word. Mere knowledge puffs up. It is through our growing knowledge of the Lord and His attributes that we wage war against the enemy of our soul.

1 Peter 1:13 says, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” John 14:21 says that He will reveal Himself to those who love the Lord and keep His commandments.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” Unless we read His word daily and apply it to our lives, we won’t discern rogue thoughts when they come into our mind.

Ephesians 5:15 compliments 1 Peter 1:13-14. It says, “See then then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Circumspectly means to walk carefully, exactly, strictly, or distinctly. 

It reminds me of a book I read years ago about the point man. He was the first in a combat military formation. He had to walk circumspectly, looking for anything that was out of the ordinary. Twigs or leaves that were laid unnaturally marked landmines.

In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter used the words, “Be sober, be vigilant…” To be sober-minded means to be calm, vigilant, circumspect, and discreet. It means to be attentive, sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit, and mindful of every nuance.

In conversations look for changes in facial expressions and body language. Listen for sighs, changes in their voice, words of unbelief, and controlling lies in what they believe about themselves. It will help us know how to offer a word in season (Isaiah 50:4).

When we are deceived, we do not recognize that we are walking in deception. That is why accountability is so essential. It is like a strong safety net that will keep us from falling into the same trap. The traps are baited with the lies that we have believed.

If what you believe about yourself does not line up with Scripture, more than likely you have an inner stronghold. It takes goal oriented, purposeful steps to achieve true freedom. Make the path of truth your own by implanting verses that will become vital truth through experience.

What has you entrapped? Psalm 124:7 says, “Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.” Fowlers are bird hunters. Who is hunting our soul?

Revelation 18 was written about Babylon’s fall. Verse 11 says that the merchants would weep and mourn over her. In the long list of her merchandise were chilling words—and souls of men.

Remember that satan, the fowler, used to control our minds. Ephesians 2:3 says, “Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…”

How does he capture our mind, will, and emotions? Through believing his lies. John 8:44 says that there is no truth in him. He has to work through deception—making things seem real when they are facades. Counterfeits!

Our defense is truth. The more truth we implant in our hearts, the more we are equipped to resist all temptations. James 1:21 says that it is the implanted word that saves our soul from being captured.

I’ve used these verses before so I will just give the references. Hosea 4:6, Isaiah 5:13, and Hosea 10:13. These three verses have one thing in common. They were ensnared because they did not pursue the knowledge of the Lord.

Years ago I read A. W. Tozer’s book: The Knowledge Of The Holy. In it he wrote that we know some of God’s attributes from Scripture, but there are many that we do not know.

Walking in the fear of the Lord is one key that unlocks our finite minds. It is an essential part of our progressive sanctification. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

When I need a good dose of perspective I turn to Isaiah 40. At the time that I am typing this, I am still reading through the book of Isaiah. I wrote these verses down in my journal.

Five times in Isaiah 45 the Lord says, “…there is no other…” Isaiah 40:25 says, “To whom then will you liken Me, or to whom shall I be equal? says the Holy One.” All throughout Scripture we learn the truth—there is no one like the Lord.

Only our flesh dares to usurp God’s place in our lives. So of course, it is our flesh that satan targets. He hates God and he hates us. He will do anything to destroy our faith and our relationship with the Lord through his traps. More on this tomorrow.

2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” The Lord is using our present trial to train us for something far greater.

Here is an interesting verse in Haggai  2:3. It says,  “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?”

Do you see what the Lord is presently doing in your life? Do you consider it as nothing compared to what He has done in your life? Beware. That is a huge looming temptation ready to swallow you up.

Isaiah 43:19 says that the Lord is doing a new thing. Isaiah 42:9 says, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.” We will not be able to hear when our mind is cluttered with longing for something in our past—the way things used to be.

Nor will we hear if we are languishing because of something evil that was done to us in the past—if only this had not happened. Thoughts that take us back to our past are noisy and clamorous. They pull with enticement.

Shake it off! Paul did. Consider thoughts of your past as the viper that latched onto Paul’s hand. Acts 28:3 says, “But when Paul had gathered a bundle of  sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.”

Hebrews 12:1 says, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” 1 Peter 2:1 were experiential words gained for Peter when he departed from the Lord. It says, “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking.”

Each time we sin we depart from the Lord. We break fellowship with Him. He never turns from us. We sin because we veer off the path of righteousness into unbelief. Hebrews 3:13 says, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.” 

Jesus told Peter that when he returned to Him, then he would be ready to strengthen others through what he went through. Do you enjoy 1 & 2 Peter? Those are words that came from his crucible trials. 

When we entertain fiery darts, we veer off the path through our mind. The battlefield is always for our mind. He who once controlled our minds wants them back. He sets traps that appeal to our flesh.

James 1:14 says that each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. James was talking about hidden sinful desires. Entertaining them feeds our flesh until it becomes inflamed.

The children of Israel veered off when they looked back. Numbers 11:4 indicated that they were influenced. It says, “Now the mixed multitude…yielded to intense craving,  so the children of Israel also wept  again and said, Who will give us  meat to eat?”

What was the train of their thoughts? Verse 5 says, “We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.” They were reminiscing about what they didn’t have, yet forgetting that they had been languishing in bondage!

Isn’t that just like us? When we wish that we could go back to something that we now miss, our craving for it intensifies. The only reason that we ‘miss’ something is because we are not content with what the Lord is doing in our life at the moment. We will continue this tomorrow.