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Our Sanctifier

1/29/2017

"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;"
~Psalm 20:1

After reading the last couple of weeks' blogs, have you made the One True God lord of your life? If so congratulations! If not, let’s not go any further until I have given you an opportunity to do so. Pray this prayer (or one like it):

Dear God in heaven, I believe that You are real, You created me and love me, and that You have a plan and a purpose for my life. I want to know You and Your love for me, personally. I believe that because of my sin, I am separated from You; but, because of Your love for me, You sent Your Son Jesus to come from heaven to live, die, and be resurrected so that I can live free from and forever forgiven of sin, and spend eternity with You when I die. I believe that Jesus is the true Savior for the world, and accept Him as my personal Savior. I accept You as Lord of my life. Now help me to know Christ more, and to live a life pleasing to You. Thank you Lord, in Jesus’ name. Amen

NOW we can praise God and continue on with a wonderful yearlong study of Psalm 20! You see He is not Jehovah M'kaddesh (The Lord Who Sanctifies) for me alone. If you’ve just prayed the prayer above, He wants to be, and will become your sanctifier as well. How do I know? Because when I first prayed the prayer of surrender, I thought I had to do all the sanctification work myself until I was introduced to sanctifying GRACE. Now, I can no longer take credit for the sanctification work in my life. It has been the One whom I have truly made Lord of my life and Salvation who continues to make me more like Him. The same goes for you, so you too can pray the below prayer of praise and petition with me:

Lord You have been my sanctifier. You have given me Your Word and Your grace that have made me new; different from my old lifestyle and from the world. You have set me apart as one of Yours. May the difference of You in me, defend me and vindicate me. May it be my banner and guide; and give me victory in the day of trouble. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Now let’s go forward with praise in expectancy!

Victorious In His name,
Dawn~

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The Names of God

1/22/2017

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"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;"
~Psalm 20:1

Did you know that the name Jehovah is used as a prefix for more than 10 Old Testament names that describe the character and nature of God? Below I have listed the 9 most common names of God that use the Jehovah prefix, and their meanings. Here are a few more important questions: Which of these names are most relevant to you and your life today, in this season of your life? Which one of God’s names below can you say is most appropriate for your life in relation to the second part of Psalm 20:1 which says, May the name of the God of Jacob defend you? Which of God’s names do you stand on in this season of your life to give you victory over the schemes, lies, and attacks of Satan?

Consider the names below, and answer each of the questions above.

Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)

Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
Jehovah M'kaddesh (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)

For me, I call on Jehovah M'kaddesh as my defender. He has set me apart and called me for His purposes. Therefore, no one can defeat me or snatch me out of His hand or His plan. I am His and He is mine!

What about you? Have you found yourself in the “day of trouble” recently? Take refuge and defense in one or several of His many Great Names!

Victorious In His name,
Dawn~

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He is Lord

1/16/2017

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"May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;"
~Psalm 20:1

What does God’s name mean to you? This year’s, month’s, week’s, passage jumps right in with the name Jehovah, translated in our passage “Lord.” The name Jehovah or Lord is used five times in this chapter of the Bible. Jehovah is the Hebrew word for the proper noun, Lord; and, is one of the primary names used for the One True God. Lord is one of the primary functions God holds in the lives of His children. He is many things to His creation, Creator, Comforter, Friend, Father… But Lord is one role He holds that makes true Christ followers different from all of creation. God is good, sends comfort, friendship, blessings, etc. to ALL (See Matthew 5:45), but only those who truly know Him personally and intimately can call Him “Lord.”

Do you know what it means to call God “Lord?” King David, the writer of Psalm 20, truly knew God as Lord. In all of his trials and tribulations, successes and failures and tragedies, king David never had another lord in his life, ever. He never listened to or obeyed another authority, even when it was inconvenient and dangerous (See 1 Samuel 17 – David and Goliath). He never sought another’s counsel or instruction. He never depended on himself, his own record or reputation, his skill or wealth. He had one Lord, and that was the One True God.

Is He Lord of your life today?

Victorious In His name,
Dawn~

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Psalm 20

1/9/2017

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Introduction to Psalm 20

This is my very favorite Psalm in the Bible. It is short and sweet and power-packed! But what do we plan to do with and get out of this chapter in 2017? More than anything else I hope to bring out this year, it is to show how those who trust in and lean on the great Name(s) of The Lord God are assured of victory. You see, in Psalm 20, God’s Great Name is mentioned six times; and, the word salvation or some variation of save – also interpreted victory – is mentioned four times. These two subjects are mentioned more than any other subject in this chapter...and quite a lot for just nine short verses!

The first part of the chapter (1-5) is a rousing prayer for victory for all who trust in the Name of God. The second part of the chapter (6-9) is an assuring declaration of victory for those who trust in the Name of God. Until you get to verse nine, you almost get a sense that something transpired between verses five and six that caused the writer to drastically shift gears from asking to assurance. It is almost as if there was a battle fought somewhere in between verses five and six. At the beginning, the king is petitioning God; then, from mid-way almost to the end, the king is no longer asking God for victory, but is instead declaring victory with full assurance.

Was there a physical battle taking place? Many! Probably not in the middle of this chapter, although that is certainly possibly seeing that the king wrote many Psalms on the run and on the battlefield. But more likely, this battle took place in the heart and mind of the king, as is the case with most of us today. This is one of the greatest points of this beautiful chapter: When we call on God’s Great Name in prayer, we can be assured that by the time we get off our knees, our focus and perspective will have changed. Not only that, but there is no other way to see victory after we get off our knees, but by calling on God’s great Name(s) in prayer in the first place.

Well what are the Names of God? We will talk about that much over the next 51 weeks. And we will talk much about the word victory. My prayer is that by the end of 2017, when I hear any of God’s great Name(s) or the word victory, they will be as synonymous with one another as gift is with present.

So get ready to join me on this new journey of seeking and just scratching the surface of the greatness in God’s Name(s); and finding assurance of victory – on our knees and on the pavement – through trusting in and calling on that great Name!

Victorious In His name,
Dawn~

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Happy New Year 2017

1/2/2017

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"‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance;"
~Matthew 25:29

Well Friends, here we are! A new year has dawned once again! I pray it was a safe and happy one for you and yours!

How is your vision for this year? What’s in your heart and spirit? What’s on the horizon for you, your family, your career, your ministry?

Here at Costly Oil, you may have noticed is that our theme has changed for the new year. Our new theme is: Psalm 20, God’s Great Name. Although this is a passage I have already begun, and am looking forward to continuing to delve into with God’s help, I want you to know that this year’s studies will be less in-depth than in the past couple of years. This is in consideration of new opportunities in which God has blessed. I hope this will be a blessing for you in that our blog will begin to once again look more like a blog, with less to digest, and faster to read; but filling nonetheless. A brief overview of 2017 MMM looks as follows: Beginning next week, we will study one verse a month from Jan-May and Sept-Dec, with the summer months off (A summer study will be determined at a later time through prayer). Each week will build on the month’s passage/verse to discover, reveal, talk about, praise, and exalt the greatness found in who God is and what it means to have Him on our side! I AM SO EXCITED!

Personally, I am in a very special place of increase promised by Jesus in this week’s reference passage. It is a reality I have seen God faithfully work out in my life, little by little, time and time again, as I simply acknowledge Him and obey. The level of increase opening up in my life for 2017 has come with great battles (some that are still smoldering from the fight of 2016, smoke trying to attach itself to the visions of 2017), fought and won and abandoned to the past as I look and walk confidently toward what God has established for me and my family. These spiritual battles were brought on in the face of prayer and obedience to trust and believe God for what He said He will do for His glory and my good. So in spite of the fight, you can understand how and why I stand victorious and joyful; and why I can look to all God is doing in confident hope: HE ALWAYS CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH!

Last year God did many new things in my life, and yet today I can say that for what God has spoken for 2017, I have never been stretched to such a level. However, I know that as I stay intimately connected and hidden in my Lord Jesus Christ, the promise of this week’s passage will continue to be a reality in my life, home, career, and ministering. I pray that we all experience this reality time and time again.

I would love to hear about what’s happening in your life, now and as 2017 unfolds. Have you seen this week's passage manifested recently for you? Please share as we embark on a new year, and a new journey!

Looking forward to all He will do in 2017,
Dawn~

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Our Sanctifier

The Names of God

He is Lord

Psalm 20

Introduction to Psalm 20

Happy New Year 2017

Make Mondays Matter

~dlb~
dawnlbedingfield

Archives

Categories

Our Sanctifier

The Names of God

He is Lord

Psalm 20

Introduction to Psalm 20

Happy New Year 2017

Make Mondays Matter

~dlb~dawnlbedingfield

Archives

Categories

~dlb~
dawnlbedingfield