“No one can paint a sunset like my Daddy.” – Tammy Phillips, January 24, 2022
by Tammy Phillips January 31, 2022
“And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after My [own] heart, who will do all My will.’” (Acts 13:22 NKJV)
Without even trying many of us desire to be just like our earthly dads. My desire is to follow in my heavenly Father’s footsteps. I want the LORD to say, “I have found Tammy the daughter of Dewey (and Marie), a woman after My heart.” Father God:
I want a heart like You. I want to love like You. I want to live like You. I want to give like You. I want to forgive like You. I want to be humble like You. I want be merciful like You. I want to be gracious like You. I want to serve like You. I want to be a warrior like You. I want to fight like you. I want to conquer like You. I want to be strong like You. I want to be courageous like You. I want to brave like You. I want to stand immovable like You. I want to endure like You. I want to be just like my Daddy.
I enCOURAGE you to be a child after our Father’s heart. Do His will and be found like David having a heart just like our Daddy. How do you know God’s will? Read His word. He tells us over and over what His will is and how to be just like Him, a loving, merciful, gracious Father.
Ask Him for help. “Father God, teach me to be just like You? P.S… One day will You let me help You paint the sky or will it even matter when I am standing in Your presence?”
“YOD. Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments.” – Psalm 119:73 NKJV
“Therefore, I remind you to STIR UP THE GIFT OF GOD which is in you …” (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV)
When you know the LORD, and file away His words within, the Holy Spirit will send you reminders. He will give you “the word,” the power you need just at the right time. Last week, I heard Holy Spirit, clear as day, “I AM your Warrior. You are my warrior. STIR IT UP!”
Then Holy Spirit prompted me, “Write the vision and make [it] plain on tablets that he may run who reads it. For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. ‘Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:2-4 NKJV)
I am going to make this as plain as I can. I pray that you will run with it. I did and it made all the difference.
The Lord is our Warrior. (See yesterday’s post if you need encouragement.)
“The LORD [is] a man of war; The LORD [is] His name.” (Exodus 15:1-3 NKJV)
We are His warriors following His lead.
“A warrior filled with wisdom ascends into the high place and releases breakthrough, bringing down the strongholds of the mighty.” (Proverbs 21:22 TPT)
We have a mission; go. However, the enemy bombards us with the things of life in order to stop us from going. The responsibilities of life hinder us from hearing the spoken word, praying, reading the word, and even gathering together in His name. The coals of our spirits still smolder but need to be “stirred up” to keep the flame and passion inside burning.
Leave it to David to teach us about getting stirred up! David had been going, doing, leading, and conquering. He and his men came back home from a mission to find that the enemy had invaded, burned their city down, taken everything, wives, children, and all their stuff. His men were none too happy with him and talked of stoning him. He was distressed! Life was beating him up and pressing in hard on him. (1 Samuel 30:1-6).
“… but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV)
The Hebrew word for encourage is chazaq. It means…
He fastened himself on the LORD.
He seized, squeezed, cleaved, and grabbed hold of the LORD.
He grew firm and strong in the LORD.
He was courageous in the LORD
He established himself in the LORD.
He took hold of the LORD.
He withstood in the Lord.
When the world pressed in on Him, he pressed into the LORD. How did he encourage himself? How did he stir himself up? Take a look at the Psalms. Why do we love them so much? We read and see how David struggled just like us, how real he was with God, how he encouraged and strengthened himself. When David got down, he stirred himself up in the Lord. He called on the Lord. He asked the LORD to get stirred up on his behalf. Have you ever stirred up the Warrior on your behalf?
“[A Psalm] of David. Plead [my cause], O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler and stand up for my help. Also draw out the spear and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, “I [am] your salvation.” … Stir up Yourself, and awake to my vindication, to my cause, my God and my Lord.” (Psalm 35:1-3, 23 NKJV)
The Hebrew word David used above for stir is “ur” which means open your eyes; awake; arise; ardent; to be hot. We can only laugh and learn at David’s candor with the LORD. He asks the Warrior to wake up twice to his cause! Then he asks the LORD to open his ears and stir up his strength. David IS talking to ALMIGHTY, ALL-POWERFUL GOD and asking Him to get stirred up.
“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who dwell [between] the cherubim, shine forth! Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up Your strength and come [and] save us! Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!” (Psalm 80:1-3 NKJV)
Then David made exuberant declarations of faith like Psalm 3 , Psalm 27, Psalm 31 and pretty much every other Psalm. He encouraged Himself in the Lord. He declared who the Lord is, what He would do and confidently believed in the awoke Warrior!
“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”(Psalm 27:14 NKJV)
“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31:24 NKJV)
I enCOURAGE and “remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6 NKJV). Stir up in the preceding is the Greek word, “anadzoopureoo.” It is a derivative of three words. First, “ana” has the idea of doing it again; “zōos” is from zao: which means enjoy real life, alive, be enthusiastic, fervent, passionate, wholehearted, and zealous. And, “pyr” means fire. Put these all together and we see Paul is urging Timothy to “stir it up,” to rekindle, inflame, strengthen, remain on fire, and to resuscitate the flame within.
My bold interpretation of Paul’s words to myself and you: “Light the fire! Put on your big girl britches. Everybody faces adversity. Remember whose daughter you are. Remember, the Warrior within, beside, in front of and behind you. He is your Daddy, the Ultimate Warrior. You are a warrior. Stir it up! Let’s go. Be responsible and fill up your gas tank to keep the fire burning. Live on purpose, a life ablaze.”
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV) So…“Let us hold fast the confession of [our] hope without wavering, for He who promised [is] faithful.“ (Hebrews 10:23 NKJV)
Songs evoke extreme emotions, thoughts of warm moments, fun times, and pictures of loved ones. I cannot hear the song, “How Great Thou Art, “ without turning into the biggest cry baby. Yes, it paints a picture of our great God and the hope we have in Him. However, it also awakens precious memories of my tiny Nanny belting out the song in a physical attempt to reach the throne of God with her small, off-key voice. I know her praise reached the attentive ear of our Lord God and brought more joy to His heart than it does to mine each time I hear it.
Songs are powerful and can change our thought patterns. I read about the song of Moses and Israel this past week. The song delivered yet another dimension of the Lord to the mailbox of my mind. When I opened the letter from Holy Spirit, I was so encouraged. I hope you will be, too.
EXODUS 15: The Song of Moses and Israel (Exodus 15: Tammy sings adds her own words as she sings along)
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, singing,
“I will sing to the Lord, for… He has triumphed gloriously. The horse and its rider (the enemy)He has thrown into the sea. (…and He will do it for me.)
2The Lord is my strength:
The Lord is my power.
The Lord is my might.
The Lord is my boldness.
The Lord is my firmness.
The Lord is my defense.
The Lord is my refuge.
The Lord is my protection.
The LORD is my song. And He has become my salvation:
He has become my help.
He has become my deliverance.
He has become my health.
He has become my victory.
It’s what the word Salvation means!
This is my God,and I will praise Him! My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
3 The LORD is a Warrior.
The Lord is a man of war.
The LORD is a man to fight
The LORD is a fighter.
The LORD is a man to fight against “it”
The LORD is a man of battle.
The Lord is an Overcomer.
The LORD is His name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has thrown into the sea. (I would sing, OUR ENEMIES He has thrown into the sea.) His chosen captains are drowned in the Red Sea. (I would sing, OUR biggest and baddest ENEMIES He has thrown into the sea.)
5 The deep [water] covers them; [Clad in armor] they sank into the depths like a stone. (see Mark 11:22-24how we deal with our enemies)
6 Your right hand, O Lord, is glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy (Jesus! You are the right hand of God. You are all powerful. We ask you to break our enemy into pieces on our behalf. In Jesus name. We evict the devil, and He has to go, in the name of Jesus!)
7 In the GREATNESS of Your majesty You overthrow and annihilate those [adversaries] who rise [in rebellion] against You; (The Lord is furious with the enemy!) You send out Your fury (anger, heat, displeasure), and it consumes them like chaff. (The LORD is mad at hell and its schemes!)
8 With the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up, The flowing waters stood up like a mound; The deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea. (The LORD has a plan…Just a little poof and the seas stacked up like jello!)
9 The enemy said (and declared his plan), ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my desire shall be satisfied against them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall dispossess them and drive them out.’ (The enemy of God has plans to steal kill and destroy! We boldly declare: “Jesus is our Warrior King! We are not afraid of our enemies. We fear the living God alone. We call on warrior God to help us and shatter our enemies. In the name of Jesus!)
10 You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; [Clad in armor] they sank like lead in the mighty waters. (Our Warrior executed and will execute His plan with a simple breath of defeat.)
11 Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders? (Our wonder working warrior God, nobody is like you!)
12 You stretched out Your right hand, The sea swallowed them. (Our Warrior swallowed up our enemies!)
13 You in Your mercy, loving-kindness,andgoodness have led the people whom You have redeemed, In Your strength You have guided them with care to Your holy habitation. (God is merciful, kind, loving, gracious, but He is our WARRIOR, too.)
14 The peoples have heard [about You], they tremble; Anguish and fear has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the [tribal] chiefs of Edom were dismayed and horrified; The [mighty] leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away [in despair]— (The enemy of God is afraid! The enemy of God melts away. Melting can be a slow or fast process; it is still melting. Our job is patient endurance.)
16 Terror and dread fall on them; (Terror and dread of our Warrior goes before and shatters the enemies of God!) Because of the greatness of Your arm they are as still as a stone; Until Your people pass by and [into Canaan], O Lord, Until the people pass by whom You have purchased.
17 You will bring them [into the land of promise] and plant them on the mountain (Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem) of Your inheritance, The place, O Lord, You have made for Your dwelling [among them], The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. (We all have our own place and our own promised land. We all have our own mountain to climb and enemy to overcome.)
18 “The Lord shall reign to eternity and beyond.” (Buzz Light Year has nothing on God. Our Hero and Warrior will reign to eternity and beyond. If that doesn’t make you happy, I do not know what will?)
19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his war-chariots and his charioteers into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea on them, BUT (GOD)the sons of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea. (The Warrior did it for Israel. The Warrior is the same, yesterday, and forever. He defeated Satan at the cross and He does the same for us every day. We have to occupy our territory and call on His name. He wins! We win!)
20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron [and Moses], took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam answered them,
‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously and is highly exalted; The horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.”
I enCOURAGE you read Exodus 15 for yourself. Do you need a Warrior? You will find Him. Take a good look at your Warrior. He is your Champion. He is brave, strong, and valiant. He is the Chief. He is the mightiest and the strongest Warrior and He goes before you in every battle. Follow Him. He will guide you through into songs of victory!
“The LORD will march out like a champion, like a warrior He will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.” (Isaiah 42:13 NIV)
I took Lana’s encouraging word s from the Lord and created declarations for 2022, supported by the word of God, line by line. Please clink on date links above to read her encouragements and scripture reference below to see entire scripture. Be blessed and use these declarations in your daily walk. They are what God says about you and me.
“DAUGHTERS OF GOD, YOUR HEALING IS UPON YOU SO YOU MAY RUN LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER RUN BEFORE”- Lana Vawser
“The winds of My Spirit and the tidal wave of My revelation and resurrection power is crashing upon you now and causing you to arise into a strength and empowerment of My Spirit where you will RUN. Get your new shoes on for it is time to run.”
I will not be stopped. I will not be stopped. Ps. 33:11
I have a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. 2 Tim. 2:7
“I am branded by the thunderings of God… ‘My TENACIOUS ONE, walking FEROCIOUSLY AND FIERCELY IN THE FEROCIOUS FOCUS OF FAITH’” -Lana Vawser (Prov. 4:25-27 )
I enCOURAGE you to read, confess and believe these declarations over your life. God said it. I believe it and that is it. Let’s go conquer 2022, humbly.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37 NIV)
“From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.” (Matthew 11:12 – TPT)
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”(2 Chronicles 15:7 NIV)
Abide Believe Continue Diligently be Endure Faithfully be Go Hold on Immovable Just don’t give in Keep at it Linger Maintain Never Give Up Persevere Resolutely be Stand firm Tenaciously be Unwavering Vigorous Watchful X off the list Yield not Zealously be
Over and over in the Lord’s word, the Alpha and Omega gives us words from “A to Z” that encourage us to never give up. Our Holy Father always reminds us to endure to the end and to stand, stand, stand.
Recently, He taught me this lesson, again. My son found a pair of black pearl earrings that I had misplaced in a plastic baggy in his closest along with a watch that I was to get repaired long ago. My husband and I purchased the earrings on a trip we took for my 50th birthday. I wore them to a wedding about five years ago and then they just disappeared. Suddenly, they had reappeared, and I was filled with joy!
I was so happy to have them back. I wore them the very next day when I went out to return some items and look at a few stores for after-Christmas sales on decorations. I went to no less than four big chain stores, Walmart, UPS, Fed Ex, Publix Grocery, and a Hallmark store inside a mall. When I got home, I was done for the day. I sat down, phoned a friend, and that is when I found one of the pearls was missing, AGAIN. I immediately realized that the enemy was attempting to steal my joy. In that moment my flesh wanted to lose it, pitch a fit, scream and cry. I had just been blessed with discovery of the pearls the day before. How could this be happening again?
My battle was in the mind, as are all battles. I knew that God knew where that pearl was. I got off the phone and began what might seem to you as a futile search. I had walked over a mile in, out and through all those stores. The chances of me finding the earring were not good. However, add God to the mix and my chances go up exponentially. I simply as Him for His help. I did what I knew to do. I began calling stores. The only place that asked for my number was our local Hallmark store. I know you probably think I was crazy for even making the calls. Maybe I was, however, “#phillipsnever quit” is our family motto and I do have crazy faith in my Big Daddy.
The afternoon was busy, and I talked to several people while calling the different stores in search of the pearl. It had only been two hours since I called the Hallmark store. I had yet to call all the places I had visited that day. While on another call, I somehow missed the call back from Rachel at Amy’s Hallmark. She (along with the help of our Loving Father) had found the missing pearl in the clearance section, of course.
I do not care what the circumstances look like. They don’t matter. God cares about the smallest to the largest things in our lives. He will help if we ask, believe, and stand on His promises. Many times, we fail to invite Him in or believe that He will help.
I enCOURAGE you to be strong and never ever give up! When you begin to feel the battle is too much and you want to give up, you must choose to fight. Resist! You must decide that you are not going to quit. When your mind is attacked by doubt and fear, you must take a stand and declare, “I am never ever giving up! God loves me. God will help me through!” Place your complete trust in Him. Do everything you can do, then watch Him intercede on your behalf, and do what only He can do. It is not hocus-pocus. It is faith. It is believing God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do. It is TOTAL dependence on Him. It is enduring in Him.
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)
“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)
PS…Big thanks to God and to Rachel at Amy’s Hallmark for going the extra mile.
I want to thank you for constantly supporting “Complete in Him” and reading what the Lord has put on my heart for the last few years. It is with sadness and excitement that I will be going from a daily post to a weekly post and maybe a few in between.
Each post takes from two to four hours to write. I told God when He called me to be a scribe for Him that I would write as long as He gave me something to say. The well has not dried up. God is infinite after all. There is still much to say. Holy Spirit continues to share revelation with me. However, I know that I am to work on finishing the second encouragement book, editing both books , as well as attempting to get them published for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom. This will take time and focus, not to mention, I just want to spend more time getting to know my Jesus more intimately. I also need to work on making me the best me I can be.
Again, thanks so much for each person in every country that has read what Holy spirit has inspired me to share. I am not stopping. I am just going low and slow. I pray that you will spend more time with the Father as well. Dive into His word. He loves you so much and wants to show you Himself.
Here is the first weekly blog of 2022…
“If my people…shall humble themselves…”2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
The LORD is talking to us. We are his people. We must become humble. The Hebrew word for humble is “kana”meaning, bow the knee; submit; go low. Why must we humble ourselves? What does it mean to be humble before God? A humble attitude doesn’t say “I.” A humble attitude surrenders and declares:
We need God.
We cannot do it on our own.
God can do it better and faster.
God has a better plan than we do.
God is the center of the universe, and we are not.
God is in control, and we are not.
God is great and we are small.
God is right and we are not.
God is God and we are not
We can do nothing without him, but all things with Him. We own nothing. We have nothing. We are nothing without Him. We cannot solve all problems, but He has all answers. He wants us to come to him. We need God.
Why must we humble ourselves? I pose this question, “Why did Lucifer fall?” PRIDE! He thought that he was all that. He thought he was the shining the light. He was just a mirror reflecting the light, the glory of God. Pride destroyed Lucifer and gave him a new name, Satan.
“Pride [goes] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV)
God says in Proverbs 6:16-19, “These six [things] the LORD hates, Yes, seven [are] an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness [who] speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV)
The LORD lists what he hates and at the top of the list in verse 17, “A proud look…” Pride is at the top of the list!
In James 4:6-7 (NKJV), the Word says… “But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
God resists the proud: the one who thinks he is better than another, above the crowd, the superior thinking, big headed, egotistical, bloated opinion of self, the exaggerated, and the self-centered. God resists the proud.
You know the proud. They say things like, “Mines better than yours. I know better than you. My President is better than yours. I am smarter than you. I am better than you. I live in a nicer house. I drive a better car. I make more money. I am prettier. I have not done the bad things you have done.”
The Greek word for “resist” is antitassō. It means orderly military might who sets itself against, and successfully wages war against, the non-compliant in order to crush the enemy. Ouch! God hates the proud. He resists the proud. Pride is a repellent to God! He is attracted to the humble, the low in mind, the one who goes low, the one who thinks small of himself and big of God, the meek, the modest, and the God centered. He gives grace, favor, a touch of empowerment to the humble. He gets involved in the humble life.
In James 4:10, we are directed to, Humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift us up. He will elevate us to the places He has planned for us. We just need to recognize and give Him the credit because we cannot do it without Him. In 1 Peter 5:6, the Word says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
This encouragement may seem redundant from the past couple of days, but it is what Holy Spirit has placed on my heart, so I know it is on His heart for me and perhaps you.
I enCOURAGE you to humble yourself. Get rid of the pride. I would much rather be lifted up from low and elevated by God because I chose to be humble myself than be resisted by Father God.
“You are never too small for God to use but you may be too big.”-Rick Renner
We are so little in light of our galaxy and our galaxy is just one of so many in God’s universe.
by Tammy Phillips January 2, 2022
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV)
If my people…
If my nation
If my kinfolk
If my kin
If my Tammy
If my ___________, (fill in your name)
which are called…
which encounter
which are invited
which are chosen
who are called by name
by my name…
by the One who was, and is, and is to come
by the name of Jesus
by the name of Christ
Christian Tammy
Christian ___________, (fill in your name)
shall humble themselves…
shall bring themselves low
shall subject themselves
shall be low themselves
shall go low themselves
shall bend their knee
shall humble and go low, Tammy…
shall humble, ___________, (fill in your name)
and pray…
and intervene
and make supplication
and make petitions
and seek…
Require; enquire; desire; request; seek to find, secure; ask; request; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer)
my face…
what’s right in front of you
what’s before you
my presence
and turn from their wicked ways…
turn back from their wicked ways
return from their wicked ways
renew from their wicked ways
refresh from their wicked ways
restore from their wicked ways
and Tammy turns from her bad ways
and ___________ (fill in your name) turns from bad.
then I will hear from heaven…
then I will listen
then I will pay attention
the I will hear Tammy from heaven
then I will hear ___________, (fill in your name) from heaven
and will forgive their sin….
and will forgive Tammy’s sin
and will forgive ___________ (fill in your name) sin
and will forgive all who ask
and will heal their land.”
I will heal.
I will heal you.
I will heal ___________, (fill in your name)
I will heal your land.
I will heal you state.
I will heal your county.
I will heal your city.
I will heal your community.
I will heal your home.
I will heal your family.
I am the God that heals! (Exodus 15:26)
I enCOURAGE you to declare this word over yourself in 2022, your family, city, state, and nation. I declared it over country on June 28, 2019. It is a word the Lord has been declaring to us for ages. We just need to obey today! Humble! Pray! Seek! Turn!
We are just one light in this massive universe of God. This alone should humble us, but that He loves and cares for us….just think on this.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NKJV) “Pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV) “Bear one another’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2 NKJV)
Not sure what to do with those Christmas cards after the holidays? A friend of mine shared her family tradition a few years ago. I love it!
Put the Christmas cards your family received in a special place that you can revisit throughout the year. Pull one out of the stack each week. Make that family your prayer focus. Pray together for that family.
This makes giving and getting them an even greater blessing all around that lasts for the whole year! Kind of like the baby in a Manger!
A note from Tammy… HAPPIEST 2022!
I enCOURAGE you not to throw your cards away! Pray without ceasing for your focus families. I am going to text my focus family at the beginning of the week and see if they have any needs.
I suggest recording their requests on the back of the card, if possible, and note when the prayers are answered. Not only will we “keep the love going, ” The cards will provide a great prayer focus and we will have a record of the goodness of God at the end of the year. I so love this idea. What a way to start the New Year!
Please know you can text or email me anytime. I am always willing to go to Father God on your behalf.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you [is] faithful, who also will do [it.]. Amen.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJV)
AMAZING SUNRISE by God and photographed my Maria Silén
by Tammy Phillips December 31, 2021
“Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place.” (Ecclesiastes 10:6 NKJV)
If you know me, you know that the Holy Spirit gives me a guiding word each year. I have been hearing, “go low…and slow,” for a while now. I know that I need to slow down and spend more intimate time with Him, but what does “go low” mean? According to Websters 1828 Dictionary, low means humble instead of high and lofty; reduce arrogance and self-dependence; meek and submissive to divine will; free from pride; to go deep; cry out. It is time to take me out of the equation!
If you know me well, you know my maiden name is Lowe. Depending on my heritage, my last name could mean “at the low,” a locational name from someone who lived near a hill or my name could mean “a lion,” and a name was given to a brave or regal person. In 2022 I suppose I am being called to live up to my name and to go low.
Solomon says that folly and stupidity are promoted in this world, while the “rich” sit in a lowly, humble place. I choose to abide in the low, meek, humble place in 2022. I will learn what it means to “go low and humble myself.”
The word of God says:
“Be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,” (1 Peter 5:5-6 NKJV)
Be clothed with humility. “To be clothed was to wear the white scarf or apron of slaves, which was fastened to the belt of the vest and distinguished slaves from freemen. Therefore, 1 Pet 5:5, “gird yourselves with humility as your servile garb” encourages Christians to show their subjection one to another by putting on humility, humbleness, and lowliness of mind.” (https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1463/kjv/tr/0-1/)
God gives grace to the humble and low
“But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:6, 10 NKJV)
Humble yourself under God Submit and lower ourselves to God. Serve in His kingdom. He will elevate us in due time. “He sets on high those who are lowly…(Job 5:11 NKJV) “But He gives more grace. Therefore, He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:6, 10 NKJV)
“Therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, put on…humility…” (Colossians 3:12 NKJV)
Put on Humility Sink into a deep sense of one’s moral littleness. Have a low opinion of oneself, and a deep sense of unworthiness in the sight of God.
“Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’s anger.” (Zephaniah 2:3 NKJV)
Seek Humility Require; enquire; desire; request; seek to find, secure; seek the face; ask; request; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer) Seek low instead of high and lofty. Seek to reduce arrogance and self- dependence. Seek meekness. Seek and submit to God’s divine will. Seek to be free from pride. Seek to go deep. Seek and cry out.
“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life.” (Proverbs 22:4 NKJV)
Humility and fear of the Lord are richness, honor and life. “Humility is a proper view of self; fear of the Lord is a proper view of God. The person who has these two qualities is well on their way on the path of wisdom.” Blessing will come to the wise man or woman who has humility and the fear of the Lord. They can certainly expect spiritual riches and honor and life, and often those same things materially in this world.” -David Guzik, (https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Pro/Pro-22.cfm?a=650004)
“Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “” (Matthew 21:5 NKJV)
Jesus came in low and slow. We should, too.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”(Matthew 11:29 NKJV)
Learn from Jesus who is low and humble in heart. It is where we can find rest.
The kingdom benefits of being humble He regards the lowly. (Psalm 138:6 NKJV) He guides the humble in justice and He teaches His way. (Psalm 25:9 NKJV) He lifts up humble. (Psalm 147:6 NKJV) He beautifies the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4 NKJV) The humble increase their joy in the LORD. (Isaiah 29:19 NKJV) He does not forget the cry of the humble. (Psalm 9:12 NKJV) He saves the humble. (2 Samuel 22:28,Psalm 18:27 NKJV)
I enCOURAGE you to “go low and slow” in 2022. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:6, 10 NKJV). He will save us, and don’t we need saving? Doesn’t our land need saving? Jesus is the humble man of 2022 and forever.
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)
Pray with me?
Father: May we speak evil of no one, be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. May we be rich in You and sit in the lowly places. May we humble ourselves, pray and seek the face of God. May we turn from evil. May God forgive all our sins and heal us and our land. In Jesus name. AMEN.
2022 word: humble 2022 phrase: go low and slow 2022 verse: Ecclesiastes 10:6, James 4:10
My son, attend (pay attention) to my WORD; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22)
Each year, I do not choose a word; the Word chooses me. The Holy Spirit guides me to a Word(s), His Word for my season. He usually leads me to word, a theme, a verse, a chapter, and/ or a book in the Bible. A WORD has bubbled in my spirit for the last 10 years at the beginning of the year. (It could have been going on longer and me not have realized it.) The word becomes my “banner” for the year. It is my guide and light. And each year the words build on each other.
2015: DO NOT FEAR 2016: WAIT 2017: GLORY & FOCUS 2018: BE BRAVE 2019: DO IT 2020: RESOLUTE 2021: PLUMB ALIGN to TRUTH… 2022:
Sometimes, I get my Word at the beginning of the year and sometimes it’s a few months into the year. As I have sought God, He has not failed to deliver His special word to me. The word so carefully chosen for me reveals more and more about God. After all, “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same (the Word) was in the beginning with God. All things were made by (the Word) him; and without him (the Word) was not anything made that was made. In him (the Word) was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)
I enCOURAGE you to listen for your guide word. Ask God for a word. He is faithful and will give you one. Most of all pay attention to the Word of God. Give it first place in your life. It is life and will light on your way. What is the word He has for you this year? I will share my word for 2022 tomorrow. I know you can hardly wait.
Complete in Him 