Author: Elisa E

Elisa E. is part of the Dyed4you Leadership Team, and she joined the Dyed4you Team in 2017. By trade she is a writer, editor, graphic designer, and creative consultant. Through her consultancy Living Colors & Expressions, Elisa and her team provide award-winning graphic design, web design, copywriting, copyediting, social media management, email marketing, and creative consulting services. She also is a longtime blogger and prophetic artist. She considers herself to be a “creative activist” and is passionate about stirring up the gift of creativity in others.
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The Blessing of Fellowship

“Ekklēsia (Assembly)” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

One day as I was pondering the subject of fellowship, the Holy Spirit dropped a download into my spirit. A picture came to mind of a group of people gathered together for a potluck meal. However, I knew the dinner was symbolic of spiritual communion.

The Spirit highlighted the fact although this was one community meal, it had contributions from every individual. I was immediately reminded of how God has taught me that I can learn something from every person that I encounter, regardless of their age, social, cultural, or even religious differences.

More often than not, we are trained to look to people of power, status, and experience to be our teachers. We may find ourselves impressed by those who are eloquent speakers, professionals with titles, or individuals who walk in a heavy anointing. And while there is certainly knowledge and wisdom to be gained from these individuals, they are not the only vessels God can teach us through. If we are not careful, we can miss the voice of our Master speaking through the humblest vessels. Therefore, we must strive to keep our ears tuned to listen.

Countless times, God has fed me spiritual food through strangers on the street, a random YouTube video or television program, the uncanny insight of a child, or even wise words from someone of a different belief system than I. Yet it has required humility to receive from God in such a way. In John 10:27, Christ says that His sheep know His voice. When you are intimate with the Word of God—the voice of truth—you can discern that voice anywhere.

I think of the story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8. This man wasn’t a Jew and could be considered an outsider by all accounts. And yet, he recognizes the truth when he sees it. He acknowledges Christ and the authority he walks in. And ultimately, his faith along with his insight about Christ’s authority impresses our Lord. And to this day, the centurion’s words are still teaching those of us who read the Scriptures. How incredible!

I believe that the true blessing of spiritual fellowship can be found when we recognize that everyone has something of value to bring to the table. The Holy Spirit can teach and speak through us all—and that includes you. Today, I sense Holy Spirit stirring us to listen for the Master’s voice wherever we go. Like children, let us be humble and open to learning, no matter the vessel God chooses to work through.

Matthew 8:11 (NIV) I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

[ “The Blessing of Fellowship” originally posted on Waiting in the Wings, reposted in its entirety with permission.]

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Holding the Right Hand of God

“Abundant Fruit” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

{hearing} I’m going to hold the right hand of God. I’m going to have His favor.

The Father is declaring these words as a truth over you, and He desires for you to come into agreement with them. He desires for you to understand what it means to be favored in His eyes. This concept may be something that you’ve perceived with your intellect, but now Father is calling you to come up a bit higher to understand this from Heaven’s perspective. Come and know what it means to rest in God’s favor and live knowing that, in Christ, you too are seated at the right hand of the Father. Continue reading “Holding the Right Hand of God”

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Be My Covenant Defender

“Empowered by Love” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

Psalm 69:9 (TPT) My love for you has my heart on fire! My passion consumes me for your house! Nothing will turn me away, even though I endure all the insults of those who insult you.

Beloved, attune your ear to My heart. Be so consumed with My Word and My standard of righteousness that our desires meld into one. Allow My passion to burn as a fire in your veins, and rise up as My covenant defender. Continue reading “Be My Covenant Defender”

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Looking Up

“Infinite Possibilities” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

I admit that I have often struggled to find a balance between keeping my feet on the ground and having my head in the clouds—keeping my thoughts in the heavens that is. I always thought that “looking up” meant continuing to looking forward to Christ’s reign. Someday, Christ would return. Someday, the Kingdom would come, and the earth would be restored. All the while, the daily demands and desires of the flesh kept me miserably rooted to the earth moment by moment. How could I practically pursue heavenly things while still in the flesh? Continue reading “Looking Up”

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In the Form of Christ

“One Body (Unity in Christ)” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

{vision} I saw different American Olympic athletes posing as if for a photoshoot meant to display their new team uniforms. What stood out to me was that, although the athletes had different types of uniforms based on their sport, all of the uniforms used the same set of colors. (Royal blue was the predominant color.) The consistency of the color is what would make it clear to others that they were all on the same team. Continue reading “In the Form of Christ”

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Minding Our Roots

“Favored One” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

A few years ago, I was reading an article about the human soul from a Jewish perspective, and I was struck by the following phrase, “The root of the soul is God.” These words resonated within me as truth, particularly in light of the creation account. The Word says that God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). While the rest of creation was formed through God’s speech, God bestowed humanity with a little piece of Himself in order to bring us to life. Continue reading “Minding Our Roots”

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Make Room to Receive Your Double Portion

“Invitation to Love” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

1 Samuel 1:4-5 (ESV) On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.

Just as Elkanah gave Hannah a double portion out of his great love for her, though she bore him no children, so too does My boundless love extend towards you. The place of favor you have in My heart does not need to be continually earned; there is no need, for you are inherently worth loving. My eternal desire is to show My great affections toward you and lavish you in a double portion of blessing—My Spirit and My Kingdom. Will you open your heart to fully receive what I have to give?

Though I am the giver of good gifts, a gift is of no use if it is not accepted. Therefore, I am stirring your innermost being and knocking upon the doors of your heart. Will you open to Me? Will you make room to receive your double portion?

Expand your mind, beloved. Remove the limits off of Me and off of yourself. Resist the urge to box Me in by determining what you believe I would and can do for you. For through the cross, you’ve seen how far I’m willing to go for you. I hold nothing of Myself back. As you let go of false and limiting beliefs, more of My Kingdom will begin to manifest in your life. For just as the earth draws the rain, so too will your open and believing heart draw the manifestations of My love to you in surprising new ways.

Song of Solomon 5:2 (VOICE) Her: I was sleeping, but my heart was awake when I heard a sound, the sound of my love pounding at the door. Him: Open yourself to me, my sister, my dearest, my sweet dove, my flawless beauty. My head is drenched with dew; my hair is soaked with the wetness of the night.

[“Make Room to Receive Your Double Portion” originally posted on Waiting in the Wings, reposted in its entirety with permission.]

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My Love is Unwavering

Numbers 23:19 (NIV) God is not human, that he should lie not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Precious child, I have set My love upon you. My love is sure and the most stable truth of all. My heart is not fickle like that of a human, able to be hot one moment and cold the next. I do not grow bored, weary, or impatient. My affections for you do not depend upon how well or how poorly you perform; in fact, you cannot earn what I have already given you freely. And having given you My love, know, dear child, that that love is irrevocable.

I have claimed you as My own and sealed your adoption through the Blood of the Lamb. Every time you stumble and fall, know surely that I will lift you up. I will dust you off, heal your hurts, and help you get your footing again. During the times you come face to face with your weaknesses, turn to me and allow My perfect love to wash over you and strengthen you. My love is always present and available, waiting for you to grasp ahold of it. I will give sureness to your steps again and hold your hand as you continue to walk the path of life. I will never abandon you.

If ever your fears tempt you to question My affections and intentions toward you, resist the urge to run and hide in shame. Instead, remind yourself of Who I Am. I Am your Father. I Am your Redeemer. I Am Faithful. Most of all, I Am love, and My love is unwavering.

2 Corinthians 6:18 (TPT) I will be a true Father to you, and you will be my beloved sons and daughters,” says the Lord Yahweh Almighty.

Romans 8:38-39 (TPT) So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. There is no power above us or beneath us—no power that could ever be found in the universe that can distance us from God’s passionate love, which is lavished upon us through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!

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Vessel of Blessing

“Blessed Beyond a Curse” by Meghan Williams of Dyed4you Art

Genesis 12:2 (VOICE) I have plans to make a great people from your descendants. And I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.

I remember some years ago when someone gave me a word of the LORD saying, “You are a daughter of blessing.” I was surprised by how deeply these words affected me. All at once, I recognized how they bore witness as truth in my spirit, however, my mind had trouble accepting what God was saying. Me? A blessing?

I realized that, on some level, I saw myself more like God’s problem child than a vessel of His blessing. Do you ever struggle with that feeling that you are unclean and that anything you put your hand to might crumble or become cursed? Do you feel more like a bad son or daughter instead of one that is beloved and highly favored? This has been my particular “identity crisis” for many years.

As God has walked me through different seasons, I’ve come to see how negative words and mistreatment from others sent me a message that did not agree with how God saw me. As I began to look back over my life with the eyes of the Spirit, I could recognize the overwhelming love, grace, and favor of God over me even through all of the trials. Many devices of the darkness had come along in an attempt to destroy me and keep me from the truth that I am a beloved daughter of the King. Yet no power can stop the fierce love of God! No matter what word curses have been spoken or what difficult circumstances I have faced, I cannot deny the incredible favor God has given me along the way.

This pattern in my life very much mirrors the life of Joseph. Though Joseph was hated by his brothers, enslaved, and eventually imprisoned, God shone his favor upon Joseph at every step. His favor manifested in the honor Joseph received from his father and through the position of authority he was given in both Potiphar’s household and in Egypt’s prison. Finally, at just the right time, God’s favor shone so brightly upon Joseph before Pharaoh that it opened the door for Joseph’s promotion as second in command of all of Egypt. Nothing could separate Joseph from the love of God!

Even so, I wouldn’t be surprised if, through all of Joseph’s trials, he struggled to believe that he was as highly favored as his prophetic dreams suggested (Genesis 37:4-11). It would have been easy for him to believe he was God’s problem child. Like many of us, Joseph may have even seen himself as the source of all the troubles he faced.

Yet God’s hand of blessing upon Joseph is undeniable. Even more, Joseph was a vessel of God’s blessings. The favor God poured out upon Joseph overflowed onto others. Joseph was a blessing to his family, Potiphar’s household, Egypt’s prison, and eventually Egypt and all the world. God’s hand of power was seen greatly when He gave Joseph the interpretation for Pharaoh’s dreams and the accompanying wisdom that would see the world through the coming famine.

Just like Joseph and just like Christ, the ultimate suffering servant of God, we too have been created to be vessels of blessing. We have been created to be temples of the living God. When He pours His Spirit upon us, the blessings of the Spirit overflow into the lives of others. We touch the world with anointed hands, releasing the Kingdom of God in everything and everyone that we touch.

Therefore, children of God, lift up your heads. You are not broken. You are not a problem and no longer a vehicle of darkness and sin. In fact, now that you are in Christ, you are God’s solution, a child of the light in a fallen world! Remember who you are and whose you are. You are a much-loved son or daughter of the Most High God. He has placed the Kingdom of Heaven within you and has ordained that you are the vessel through which His blessings will flow.

Luke 2:52 (NIV) And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Deuteronomy 33:13-16 (VOICE)About Joseph he said, Moses: May his land be blessed by the Eternal with the best the sky has to offer—abundant rains—and with the dew and the waters that lie below the ground. May it be blessed with the best the sun can produce and the best crops of each month, With the best that grows on the ancient mountains and the everlasting hills, With the best the land has to offer when it’s filled with good things, And most of all may it be blessed with the favor of the One who appeared in the burning bush. Let all these blessings rest on Joseph’s head, on the head of this prince among his brothers.

[“Vessel of Blessing“ originally posted on Waiting in the Wings, reposted in its entirety with permission.]