By Graciously Defined Blog
The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.
Welcome to today's episode where we explore a thought-provoking concept: the peril of placing our security in wealth and the pride it can breed. Straight from the book of Amos. Join us as we condemn the exploitation of the poor, the allure of idolatry, and the disregard for God's commands. We'll spotlight how this false sense of security in wealth can not only foster pride but also unleash unforeseen consequences. Tune in as we dissect the scripture and offer insights to guide us back to a balanced perspective on wealth and humility.
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Time Stamps:
8:30 - 5 things pride produces in our lives
Pride leads to shame. Proverbs 11:2 states “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Pride leads to arguments. Proverbs 13:10 states “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Pride will be punished. Proverbs 16:5 states “The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Pride ends in destruction. Proverbs 16:18 states “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride cuts us off from God and others. Luke 18:9-14 states “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
12:35 - Pride produces more dead fruit.
24:15 - Money and Wealth can lead you astray if you don’t know
1. What it truly means in the bible.
2 How to steward it.
3. How god wants to bless you with it by learning how to bless others first.
Book Recommendation: Robert Morrisons': The Blessed Life
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What is meditation? What is the difference between meditation of the scripture vs. meditation in the spirit? Is the practice of meditation from God? In today’s episode, I will be sharing my own experiences, truths the spirit has revealed to me, and the benefits of both meditation of the scripture and meditation in the spirit.
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Time Stamps:
2:40 - So Why did God choose the word “meditate”?
In Hebrew, it translates in the old testament to "הָגָה" (hagah) It conveys the idea of muttering, murmuring, or pondering deeply.
In Greek the word for "meditate" is often associated with the concept of deep contemplation and reflection. In the New Testament, the word "μελετάω" (meletao) is used, which can mean "to care for," "to be concerned about," or "to think deeply about."
In Aramaic, the word "שׂגיא" (sagyā) is sometimes used to convey the idea of meditation or contemplation.
4:15 - The difference between meditating in the scripture vs. in the spirit?
Meditation is a form of Prayer.
Meditation of the scripture teaches us to:
Be still.
Listen.
To be mindful and open our conscience to truths not found on the surface of scripture but to heal the depths of our hearts. (Take note that only God can do this)
Meditation of the scripture helps us release control to God.
5:23 - The Posture of our Hands.
When meditating in the spirit your hands are always open to receive.
Our hands are positioned in a specific posture to receive.
6:22 - God’s message to his people.
“If I am who you worship, your eyes and heart are set on me and me alone, then you must learn to trust that I will not lead you astray.”
6:56 - Side Note Message (Important)
Everyone’s gifts differ, the experiences that I share here will differ from yours and I need you to know that is okay. I have had many instances in my life where people have judged me and my experiences because they have never encountered God in the ways I have and it scares them.
7:30 - 3 Tools Used in Practicing Meditation in the Spirit:
Posture: Sit with your legs crossed in front of you, back straight, and place your hands on your knees (palms facing to the sky).
Breathing: Using the Yahweh Technique: While breathing in say “yah” and while breathing out say “weh”. Repeat until you feel at peace.
Music or Scripture: Remember the music must resonate with your spirit. Below are a few resources for you.
This is the woman, God led me to meditate too and I also listen to her music. Her name is Mei-Lan Maurits. https://www.youtube.com/@Mei-lan
This is the Abide Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AbideSleepMeditation
These are other channels I have found as well. https://www.youtube.com/@innerlotusmusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW05QegDy11rAFRhuyED-8A
11:15 - 2 Warnings from God:
Do not idolize it. Meditation is for the sole purpose of communication, self-awareness, and spiritual awareness.
Do not let it lead you astray into other religions. (Allow God to teach you to find him in all things, but do not become those things)
13:06 - Self-awareness
Self-awareness is about learning to awaken a Christ-consciousness to become the person God intended us to be. It’s a form of self-reflection where we examine our state of being, our feelings, and the appropriateness of actions or behaviors in our life.
The word “conscience” in Hebrew can be specifically directed to the Hebrew word “lev” or “the heart”. In the bible, it is the main location of 2 things reflection and inner judgment and we can find these in 2 Samuel 24:10 with David.
When we become self-aware, we become mindful of our emotions.
Proverbs 20:5 says “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.”
15:03 - Self-awareness is the first step to spiritual awareness.
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We will be discussing the concept of being the remnant and how it relates to God's judgment and discipline in the book of Isaiah. While emphasizing that embracing one's identity as the remnant can bring hope and healing during difficult seasons of life. Scripture: Isaiah 10 - 11, Matthew 22:14.
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Key Points
• The concept of remnants in Isaiah symbolizes a gift of what is left over after a difficult season.
• God's judgment in Assyria was a form of spiritual discipline and correction for their arrogance and oppression.
• God will not continue to give grace if we continually ignore him or disobey.
• The purpose of difficult seasons is to help us break free of burdens and weights we thought we would carry into the next chapter of our lives.
• God desires to make us new creations and remaining faithful through the fire is key to receiving his blessings.
• Jesus serves as an example for humanity, and we can access the same sevenfold spirit of the Lord that rested upon him.
• Being the remnant means taking action in faith and spreading the good news in order to bring God's people home.
Remnant meaning:
Residue/what’s left over.
In Isaiah’s prophecy it had a special significance. “A holy seed, or spiritual kernel”, which should survive “impending judgment and become the “germ of the people of God”. (if we look at the word “germ”)
Germ - small mass of living substance capable of developing into an organism or one of it’s parts. A germ spreads, infecting others in it’s path. God needs his people to spread the good news and in order to bring his people home.
In the bible it means a portion of people left after a disaster, especially a disaster identified with divine judgment.
Best Quotes
12:01 - 12:19
• "If God reassured the Israelites in the midst of this war, in the midst of this battle between the Assyrians and the Israelites, I can only imagine what this war looks like."
12:33 - 12:38
• "Despite all of that, despite the circumstances around you, God is still in control."
13:49 - 13:54
• "Don't let this season in your life define who you are and where you're going."
14:01 - 14:05
• "Living and operating in the valleys of the shadows is not life. It's death."
14:47 - 14:55
• "The purpose of this next season is to help you break free of things you thought you would carry into the next chapter of your life before your breakthrough."
18:16 - 18:27
• "You allowed the devil to tell you that you have no power...I rebuke that in the name of Jesus because you are the remnant that remains."
25:00 - 25:15
• "The chosen not only answer the call, but they take action in faith. They ask questions, they go to therapy, they break the chains, they change their habits."
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Taking our thoughts captive means we are acknowledging the negative thoughts or the lies we have in our heart and mind. Capturing it, responding to it and rewriting it with the truth in order for our thoughts to be obedient to Christ.
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Time Stamps:
2:05 - What does it mean to take our thoughts captive? It means you are acknowledging the negative thoughts or the lies you have in your heart and mind. Capturing it, responding to it and rewriting it with the truth in order for your thoughts to be obedient to the way we live our lives in Christ.
3:44 - Jennie Allen - Get out of my head
“Our emotions lead us to our thoughts, and those thoughts dictate our decisions, and our decisions are determining behaviors, and then the behaviors are shaping our relationships, all of which take us back to either healthy or unhealthy thoughts. Round and round, spinning down, seemingly out of control, our lives now being defined by this endless cycle.”
5:41 - A.N.T.S Automatic Negative Thinking Syndrome
A.N.T.S which is an acronym for Automatic Negative Thinking Syndrome.
Automatic Negative Thoughts are negative beliefs that occur habitually. Meaning they are in a loop. They are involuntary responses to certain situations that are based on core beliefs you hold about yourself, others, or the world.
7:50 - We must make a choice! A choice to say, “no I choose to allow God to define me; not my negative thoughts.”
8:53 - 2 Corinthians 10:5 :
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.
Meaning we have the power to destroy all of those thoughts with a choice to allow God to help us operate in the Spirit.
Romans 8:6-8
For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
2 Corinthians 10:5-6 it states:
Taking your thoughts captive BEING ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. If we don’t operate in the spirit we are operating in the flesh and being disobedient to God all together that’s why this is so super important.
12:22 - 4 reasons for why you shouldn't let your heart lead.
1. Our hearts lie.
Jeremiah 17:9 says: The heart is deceitful above all things,
The heart, the conscience of man, in his corrupt and fallen state, is deceitful above all things. It calls evil good, and good evil; and cries peace to those to whom it does not belong. Herein the heart is desperately wicked; it is deadly, it is desperate.
2. Our hearts are wicked.
Jeremiah 17:9 says: and desperately wicked: who can know it?
“The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.” The unredeemed heart is full of wickedness and sin, and the redeemed heart often falls too easily back into those temptations, especially when we’re leaning on our own understanding (which is essentially following our heart) instead of trusting in the Lord and looking to Him for guidance.
3. Our hearts are prone to idols.
3 ways to know if something has become an idol in your life:
Do I identify myself according to this person or thing?
Am I surrendering everything to god or is there something I am keeping to myself?
Do I desire it with all my heart that it has now overtaken the position God should have in my life?
4. Our hearts don’t know what is truly best for us.
16:45 - Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
18:27 - Glory Triggers Sermon - Sarah Jake Roberts https://youtu.be/IZJci4jBp-o
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Join me today as we dive into the difference between the fear of man v.s the fear of the lord.
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Time Stamps:
2:07 - What is fear? Fear is a natural and, in its purpose, beneficent feeling, arising in the presence or anticipation of danger, and moving to its avoidance; it is also awakened in the presence of superiors and of striking manifestations of power, etc., taking the form of awe or reverence. In biblical terms, fear is the lack of faith.
5:39 - 3 Questions: Why was fear created? What does it really mean to fear the Lord? Why is the fear of man a problem?
6:48 - What was fear created?
Emotion is derived from the Latin root, movere, which means, “to move”. Meaning our emotions are given to us by God to put us “into motion.” Fear is also a god given emotion used to alert us to danger. In a sense fear is used as a tool to create boundaries for his people.
8:00 - 3 Hebrew derivation of fear.
Genesis 3:10 - yarah - the Emotional Response of fear, the anxiety response.
The literal concrete meaning of “Yara” is a “flowing of the gut”, which can be applied to “fear” or “reverence” (Reverence is profound love and respect)
Job 4:14 - Pahad - the Physical Response to fear.
Psalms 111:10 - Yirat Shamayim - which means fear of heaven, it is a basic spiritual quality required in Judaism. Yirah means to revere. It is fear but in reverence or respect. Shamayim means skies or heavens, it is also a reference to God.
10:19 - Boundaries according to Lysa Terkerst are for the sake of our protection. (Genesis 2:15-17) “God is a God of order, boundaries are the only fighting chance we have at communicating toward having boundaries in our relationships. Boundaries maintain law and order. When you are without boundaries you will lack self-control, discipline, purpose, and your life will ultimately become chaotic in various areas.”
12:35 - What does it mean to truly fear God? Fearing God is “reverence”. It’s a respect of God’s love, power, mercy and grace, to the point where we need not worry that he will persecute us for our mistakes but he can and will punish us for being disobedient to his command. It’s acknowledging that he is our creator and without him we would not have the gift of salvation. As he is the alpha and omega.
Scripture List:
Psalms 23:4
Psalms 34:9
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 8:13
Proverbs 19:23
Ecclesiastes 12:13
25:06 - Why is the fear of man a problem?
Questions for Reflection:
Do I change my words or actions depending on who I am around in order to gain their approval?
What is my response when someone doesn’t like me?
Am I okay with being misunderstood?
Do I avoid conflict even though it is healthy and necessary?
Do I shy away from voicing my opinions because they may not please everyone involved?
Who’s approval am I constantly thinking of? The people in and around my life or the Lords?
Scripture List:
Proverbs 29:25
Galatians 1:10
Proverbs 29:25
Hebrews 12:1-2
Psalms 56:3-4
Hebrews 4:15
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Join me today as we dive into the story of Hannah and talk about overcoming, how to endure suffering, and the year of the Lord’s Favor!
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Time Stamps:
1:12 - What is an overcomer?
2:30 - Hannah in Hebrew means graciousness and favor.
3:49 - Sometimes our heightened emotions and feelings will open a door to the enemy and cause bitterness. He will put bitterness in our lives to steer us away from God's grace.
4:50 - 1 Peter 5:8
7:49 - #1 strategy of the enemy is to pull you away from God using the distraction of our hearts.
8:48 - Desperation is the key.
9:41 - Hannah made a vow.
12:40 - Praying in the spirit.
15:05 - Prayer is important.
16:40 - The meaning of your name is your very identity.
17:24 - Graciously Defined is identity in Christ once we let him provide his grace, love, and mercy in our lives even as we fall short.
19:00 - Sometimes you have to endure suffering in order to produce fruit in your life.
20:01 - 4 things Hannah’s suffering produced in her.
26:00 - The year of Jubilee
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In today's episode, I will be helping you uncover the things in your life that you have ignored, set aside to deal with later, or the things you have yet to realize are a problem till something significant happens. We will be diving into the subject of inner healing and what causes the surface of our hearts to leak. Specifically when there is a lack of healing below the surface.
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Join me today to learn how to acknowledge what is blocking you from walking into your anointing. While also learning how to take that knowledge, face it, rewrite, and reroute it into God's glory.
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In order to obey God, you must hear him. But what happens when God asks us to do something beyond our understanding and at that moment we would rather ignore him and walk in disobedience instead? Sometimes "understanding" God's will at that current moment will only make us stray further.
So what exactly is obedience? and why can't we lean on our own understanding? Join me today to find out!
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There was a night I just kept hearing the words “God Speaks” and I think what God was trying to tell me was his people are wondering how does God can truly speak into a person’s life. Join me to learn the 5 ways God speaks to us with corresponding scripture to back it up.
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The podcast currently has 26 episodes available.