Death for Life

I am opening your eyes to how often you operate from fear. This is not to discourage you, dear one! Instead, I am showing you this so that you can discover how many opportunities you have each day to make a different choice! A choice to die to your fear and let Me live through you. Resurrection power at work in the persistent struggles you face every day! 

I did not intend for this life to be one of struggling just to survive...I came that you might have LIFE! ABUNDANT and VICTORIOUS LIFE! But for that life to be at work in you, you need to die to certain thought habits, attitudes and behaviours. If you want to truly live, you will need to die to your right to whinge and complain about your lot; die to self-pity, die to self-sufficiency; and die to excessive planning and control. 

This is a painful process. Death always is. But a seed must die and be buried in the ground before it can burst forth in new life. 

Remember the Divine Exchange - you never come out worse off! I gave ALL OF MYSELF, that I might have ALL OF YOU. You give Me your dirty and tattered rags of your attempts at holy living - I replace them with shining robes of My righteousness! This is a one-off transaction, completed on the cross and through the empty tomb. However, you need to walk this out each and every day. You must give up something in order to gain everything.

Vulnerable Love

My Love is immense. But it is also vulnerable. Sometimes My people think that My Love is strong and silent, that I cannot be hurt. As you read the book of Hosea, you see how tender and vulnerable My Love is. When My people turn from Me and reject My Love, or abuse it - it is agony for Me! 

I pour out My Love on you, but it does cost Me. Just as you have power to give Me joy when you draw near to Me; you also have power to cause Me pain when you withdraw from Me. Do not think that I remain unmoved. 

Let this really sink in, dear one. My Unfailing Love truly is the wonder of the world. Let your heart be captivated by My deep and costly Love. Let your heart respond to My passionate and tender Love.

As you walk through this day, there will be many opportunities to either draw near to Me or withdraw from me. Each time you face an obstacle, you can choose how to respond. Your response does matter to Me. I long for you to allow each hardship, each difficulty to remind you to turn your face to Me, to draw near to Me, to seek My Face. My heart longs to be your only source of strength! I long for you to allow each comfort, each lovely surprise to remind you to turn your Face to Me, to draw near to Me in gratitude and wonder. My heart longs to share moments of Joy with you!

Parenting with Perfect Love

You feel stretched to breaking point right now. I understand, My precious one. Give Me all of your fear and doubt, your exhaustion and illness. Hear this: even when your flesh and your heart fail you - I AM the strength of your heart and your portion forever! (Psalm 73:26)

Let My Love overwhelm and drive out all of your fear right now. Especially the fear that you will not be able to parent wisely and kindly while you are this tired and weak. You cannot operate out of fear and love at the same time. When you are harsh with your children, it is because you are operating out of fear, not love. Fear of their sinfulness, fear of failure, fear of mess, chaos, disorder, fear of losing control. When fear tries to take over, stop and make a conscious choice to reconnect with Me. 

I AM Love. When you are connected to Me, My Love can flow through you. I will show you how to respond to your children in the way that they will most experience love at this moment. I will not tell you the same thing every time. Sometimes, your best loving response will be to laugh and show grace. At other times, your best loving response will be to kindly but firmly restate boundaries or calmly and kindly follow through on consequences. 

There is no fear in love. Fear has to do with punishment, but Perfect Love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18) Let Me teach you how Perfect Love parents, by the way that I parent you.

Yielded Weakness

Joy will accompany you when you are walking by My Spirit! Joy is a sign that you are walking by faith, not by sight. My joy is your strength. Whenever you lose your joy, it is a sure sign that you are walking by sight, slipping into D.I.Y. mode, giving fear control of your heart. 

When you feel weary, sick and exhausted, you very quickly let fear take the upper hand. You operate from fear-based thinking: "How can I possibly be victorious today?" But this is based on an erroneous and prideful assumption that you actually have something to do with your victory. I AM your victory. All that is required of you, dear one, is that you yield your heart to Me. 

Paul knew this secret: "For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10) For My Grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12:9) Weakness itself does not automatically allow Me room to move - it is your yielded weakness that I require. 

Yield your weakness to Me, and live moment by moment in joyful dependence on Me.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Learning to Walk

Breakthrough is coming, dear one! Continue to keep your eyes fixed on Me. If you focus your eyes on your own failings and shortcomings, you discredit Me and the work I AM doing in you! Take joy, dear heart, in what you can see Me doing! Celebrate the progress made, rather than despairing over the stumbling incidents. 

Each time you trip, I help you up. I am the lifter of your head. You think that you need to watch your feet to see where you are going, and to avoid stumbling. Ha! That is earthly perspective! That is walking by sight! Walking by faith means keeping your eyes absolutely fixed on Me and trusting Me to direct your steps. 

Remember when your children were learning to walk...when they got caught up in trying to make their feet do the right thing, they would inevitably stumble and fall. The great successes came when they were so focused on your face across the room that they forgot what their feet were doing, and just let their feet carry them joyfully into your waiting arms!! 

With the same childlike faith and joy, fix your eyes on My Face. Focus your heart on Me, and what your feet are doing will become less important to you, in the Light of My Face. 

Psalm 121:1-3 "I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip."

Psalm 37:23-24 "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

More Than A Conqueror!

Come to Me, weary one. Lay down all of your burdens again. I will give you rest. Wait here with Me. Refreshing your spirit in My Presence takes TIME. 

Wait patiently for Me. I do hear your cries. I lift you up out of the slimy pit of self-pity. Out of the mud and muck of sickness and weariness. I set your feet upon a Rock. I give you a firm place to stand. I am putting a new song in your mouth, a song of praise to Me. A song of celebration and joy. Many around you will see and will put their trust in Me. (Psalm 40:1-3)

In Me, you are more than a conqueror! (Romans 8:37)

I WILL Come Through For You

You must always be on your guard against "D.I.Y. mode". When you are impatient with the chaos around you, you slip into D.I.Y. mode to try to exert some control over your environment. You act in your own strength, instead of waiting for Me to empower and direct you. 

This behaviour is driven by fear, not love, and the results speak for themselves:

• damaged relationships
• feelings of inadequacy
• absolute exhaustion
• resentment and dissatisfaction with your lot
• a flurry of negative thoughts
• tears and tantrums 

Today, when all around you seems chaotic, run to Me! Give Me your fear and impatience. Rest in Me. Tune in to My voice, and do not jump into action until you hear from Me. Listen for the one next step. Quieten your frenzied thoughts and listen for My gentle, quiet voice. 

Trust Me with all your heart - I WILL come through for you! Yes, even in the "little things"! In ALL your ways, acknowledge Me, and I WILL direct your paths! (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Desires of Your Heart

"Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:3-4

There is a wonderful principle at work here! This passage is not some formula to follow: Delight yourself in the Lord and then He will give you every selfish desire you ever had. No! Instead, it goes like this: 

Delight yourself in Me. Love to spend time in My Presence. Let yourself be caught up in the fascination of who I AM. You will have the exquisite pleasure of spending eternity exploring the millions of facets of My beauty; but I have a special gift for you here and now...you can start this exciting adventure NOW! 

As you embark on this journey of delighting in Me, you will discover that you are in for a wild joy ride! You will be utterly captivated by My ENORMITY and My INTRICACY - and your heart will long to know and experience Me more and more deeply. You will crave more of Me with each passing day. The greatest desire of your heart will be Me. 

And here it is, Dear Heart! I will give you this desire of your heart! I will open your eyes to new passageways to explore in My Presence. I will unlock secrets of My Heart. I will let you explore aspects of My beauty that angels long to look upon. What could possibly be better than this?

Heavenly Perspective

Psalm 36:5-9

As you spend time here in My Presence, meditating on who I AM, your perspective shifts from an earthly perspective to a heavenly perspective. From your earthly perspective, your problems look huge, the challenges ahead of you loom large and daunting; but from My heavenly perspective, everything is different. As you focus your heart-eyes on Me, your mind opens just a little to My enormity. You begin to catch a glimpse of the vastness of My Faithfulness and the expansiveness of my priceless, unfailing Love. (Psalm 36:5-6)

As you soak in My Presence, the reality of who I AM can transform your perspective from earthly to heavenly. Here, I invite you to feast on the abundance of My house, to drink your fill from My river of delights! I AM the Fountain of Life. A "fountain of cascading light". (Psalm 36:7-9) As you gaze on the Light of My Face, I open your eyes to see the world from this light! 

Even the mundane challenges of coordinating routines, doing housework, managing grumpy, defiant and bickering children, dealing with sickness...when seen from the Light of My Face, these challenges all appear as beautiful opportunities for you to see how I can move when you life your live yielded to Me, listening to My Voice every step of your day!

Embrace the Waiting Time

I know that this waiting time can feel excruciatingly long for you at times. By your nature, you are impatient. You want answers NOW, you want miraculous healing NOW, you want reassurance NOW. You want to know all, so that you can plan all, so that you can reestablish your happy illusion of control. 

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7)

Focus your energy on trusting Me with your whole heart. Be diligent in placing your hope securely in Me. "Seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14) Embrace this waiting time as an opportunity to retrain your brain from its illusion of control to truly walking by faith.

Redefining Good

Psalm 34 

See, I am doing a new thing! I am redefining your heart's understanding of "good". For years I have been wooing your heart, showing you glimpses of My Love, and always, always inviting you: "Taste and see that I am Good!" (Ps 34:8) You have been so timid, Dear One, in responding to my invitation. So wary of Me. So afraid to really believe that I could be for real! You have taken little nibbles from time to time, but you have always allowed the enemy to distract you with fear, hurt, disappointment and busyness.

The enemy's oldest tactic since the garden of Eden is to make My Beloved people question My Goodness; to doubt that I AM Love; to be suspicious of My motives...He knows that if you truly understand that I AM Good, and if you truly trust in My Goodness, then you can live a yielded life - a victorious life!   

Only recently have you begun to dare to taste of My Goodness, and to develop a daily appetite for My Presence. Listen with your whole heart, Precious! "Those who seek Me lack no good thing!" (Psalm 34:10). Because I promise that those who seek Me shall find Me - and I AM GOODNESS! The delights you will discover as you learn to live ever in My Presence...sheer GOODNESS, My Beloved! Unlimited joy, and peace in the midst of tumult! 

Is it any wonder that the enemy is doubling his efforts to keep you from pursuing Me with your whole heart? He has been trying:

- annoying insect infestations

- sickness

- injury

- difficult diagnoses

- financial strain

- relational tension

Let Me teach you, Dear Heart; let Me tell you a secret...what he intends for your harm, I intend for good! (Genesis 50:20) Let every frustration you encounter turn your heart towards Me. Let every difficulty increase your desire for more of My Presence. Let every inconvenience serve as a reminder to press into Me! 

And as for the enemy's intentions for harm..."In My name, in the name of the Lord, CUT THEM OFF!" (Psalm 118:10-12)

Drink Deep

You are running on empty today, feeling like there is not much love or patience for those around you. Yet another telltale sign of "D.I.Y mode", Dear Heart. You are striving in your own strength again. Trying to run your own life, and the lives of those around you. When you face resistance, you feel rejected and unloved.

Come to Me, Beloved. Run to Me, and do not delay. Lay down your pride and failed attempts at self-sufficiency. Drink deep from My Living Water. Drink deep. Lay down and rest in My Unfailing Love. Just soak in My Presence. Let Me envelop you with My everlasting arms. Rest here until you are saturated with My Unfailing Love. Only then can you go forth and love those around you with My Love - Love that trusts, hopes, perseveres, keeps no record of wrong, is patient, kind, selfless, humble and gracious. 

Dare to Believe

Psalm 32

There are times when you feel that you are completely justified in "falling apart", feeling sorry for yourself, or feeling like you are being unfairly targeted with difficult circumstances. 

Lay down this mindset! It poisons your heart, and no good EVER comes from it. 

In fact, there are areas of your life that you have even built your identity around this kind of victim mindset. It is so deeply ingrained in your psyche that you have had recurring bad dreams over a number of years, in which you feature as the victim in so many different situations.

Remember: "Do not grumble...No temptation has seized you except what is common to man."  (1 Corinthians 10:10,12)

Let Me take this a step further - all too often, you have dressed this self-seeking attitude up as humility, and painted yourself as a patiently suffering servant, all the while feeding your pride on the pity and admiration that others offer in response.

I am not telling you this to shame you, My Love, but to open your eyes to a doorway you have been leaving open to the enemy. 

Oh My Darling, I love you more deeply and more completely than you can ever know this side of heaven. As you begin to grasp this truth little by little, you are starting to trust Me enough to let Me near your old wounds that never healed properly. As you dare to believe that I DO, in fact, have your best interests at heart, you realise that there are times when I need to inflict pain in order to heal you. But FEAR NOT, My Beloved! Know this: I never operate without first giving you an unlimited direct line of My Unfailing Love - the purest and best anesthetic available!

My Goodness

Psalm 31:19-20 "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues."

Just let that sink in...how GREAT and abundant is the Goodness which I have stored up for those who fear Me, which I bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in Me. 

I hide you in the shelter of My Presence...this is Goodness beyond compare! You have access to this bounteous Goodness because of My ultimate sacrifice. Don't ever forget that or take it for granted. Enter My Presence with a grateful heart, with thanksgiving, with singing and dancing. 

Carry My Presence with you today as you go about your normal household chores, and as you go to your appointments. Do not fear what may happen today. Reject fear, and find shelter in My Presence. Rest in My Love. Surely, My Goodness will follow you all the moments of your day, all the days of your life. 

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord." (Psalm 31:24)

Give Thanks

See My hand at work all around you. Notice what I am doing, and give Me your thanks. 

Do not let the niggling annoyances of your day drag you down. When something happens that makes you want to scream, yell, or even just sigh and roll your eyes - take a deep breath and call to mind My Goodness and My Faithfulness. 

Let Me transform your attitude to one of gratitude and thankful worship, and just watch how your circumstances change as you respond from that place of thanksgiving rather than impatience and frustration.

"O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever." Psalm 30:12

Fully Clothed

This precious time with Me is the most important part of your morning routine. The most important part of your dressing regime, even. Don't rush it! I say "Stay...until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)

My Spirit already dwells in you, but you need fresh in-filling each and every day. As you continually praise and worship Me, your heart is prepared to receive afresh. (Luke 24:53)

When all of your routines are being thrown out of whack, keep steadfastly to your commitment to seek after Me. Not because you have to, or to be a "good little Christian", but because you desire Me above all else! 

Delight yourself in Me, and do not be hasty to rush into the day before you are fully "clothed" in My Presence, which is power from on high!

I AM

When you sense the darkness descending on your mind like a cloud, remember that I AM your Light and your Salvation!

When you feel exhausted and under attack, remember that I AM your Stronghold, your Strength and your Shield. 

When it seems like a storm is raging around you, remember that I AM your Anchor, and you cannot be shaken!

When you feel you are being dragged down into the miry pit, remember that I AM your high Rock, solid and unsinkable! 

As you remember these truths, respond with a grateful heart. Let your heart leap for joy, sing out your thanks to Me (Psalm 28:7). Your sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving lifts your eyes above your circumstances, and back to My Face. Circumstances become irrelevant in the Light of My Face! 

Offer sacrifices of thanksgiving throughout your day - this is an act of worship that pleases and delights My heart!

Speak Out My Word

When you feel like you are under attack - beset on every side - let your response be to trust in Me, speak out My Truth, and find shelter in My Presence. 

As much as you feel like falling in a heap on the ground, whinging and moaning about how irritating it is to be attacked...this is not helpful. Resist the urge to hold a pity party, however tempting it is. When you are at the end of yourself, and just cannot find any words - speak out My Word: 

Psalm 27 

Of David.

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

Without Wavering

Psalm 26

Trusting Me with your whole heart is an act of total commitment. This is not something you can say with your mouth - "I am trusting God", then go ahead in your own strength, figuring things out for yourself.

I want you to learn to trust Me without wavering (vs 1). How can you learn this? By living in My Presence, and each time you do waver, draw near to Me again and reassert your trust in Me. 

Keep My Love ever before you (vs 2). When you realise you are operating in "D.I.Y mode", withdraw into My Presence, and do not leave until your heart and mind are flooded with an awareness of My Love and My Truth. This way, you will learn to walk continually in My Truth. (vs 2)

You are growing to love My Presence above all else...this is the place where My Glory dwells (vs 8). You crave My Presence as you awake, and as you drift off to sleep. Do you not know that you yourself are a carrier of My Presence? You have unlimited access, 24/7. When you are stressed in traffic, frazzled by kids' whinging, frustrated by unexpected bills, floored by bad news...lean into My Presence, and let My Presence transform your experience from stressed to blessed. 

My Presence is a reality-shifter! You do not need to live in "D-I-Y mode" as your default setting! I want to shift your default setting to living from the reality of My Presence. The laws of this reality are different. The first law you need to remember - I've got this, and I am completely trustworthy! 

Direct From My Heart

I love to confide in you, dear one (Psalm 25:14). I love to reveal Myself to those who seek Me. I take joy in instructing you in the way chosen for you (Psalm 25:12). I love to search for those who are truly searching for Me.

There is so much more I that I long to reveal to you. I am limited by how much you can handle. Keep on pursuing Me with your whole heart, and your capacity to receive will increase. 

Focus your heart-eyes on My Face, let My gaze of Love hold you still; transfixed. Lose yourself in the wonder of My Presence. The more you gaze on My Beauty, the more you forget yourself; and the details of your circumstances fade in the glorious Light of My Face. 

This is not just some divine distraction technique! The act of losing yourself in My Presence opens you up to receive so much more from My very heart. Here, I can impart hope, healing and greater faith. I can impart more love, joy, peace, patience, and the other fruits of the Spirit - direct from My heart to your heart!

 

All Day Long

Psalm 25

Hope in Me all day long. This requires a series of choices throughout the day. Choose to keep on putting your hope in Me through all the ups and downs of your day. Keep your eyes ever on Me. 

Many things can happen on any given day that can distract you from hoping in Me. Even lovely blessings - surprises from friends, an encouraging word, a demonstration of support - any one of these good gifts can distract you if you begin to place your hope in your support network, instead of in Me. Of course, these lovely blessings are cause for you to respond in joy, with a grateful heart - but check yourself to make sure you are keeping your eyes fixed on Me. 

As you know too well, unexpected bad news, a sudden change in plans, or a probing question can also distract you from Me. But you can train yourself to actively choose to respond by placing your hope in Me. Your heart may seem to skip a beat, and go into panic mode; but you can learn to use thsi as a cue for emergency Hope Declaration:

"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let [the enemy] triumph over me. No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame." (Psalm 25:1-3)

Yield To Love

Matthew 28:36-28:10

It is not wrong to experience strong emotions. During My time on earth as a fully human man, I often expressed strong emotions; yet I never sinned. Emotions are not your enemies - but the evil one wants to use your emotions to pull your eyes away from My Face. 

When I knew my crucifixion was approaching, My emotions were overwhelmingly intense. I felt overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death! I took My sorrow to the Father and expressed it to Him. But then I yielded My will to His. This yielding was not immediate - My agony was so great that I had to speak out My surrender and submission the the Father's will twice more before I was ready to face the difficult circumstances ahead of Me. 

I fixed My heart on the big picture - eternity! I focused My heart-eyes on the eternal joy My submission would reap (Hebrews 12:2). I fixed My eyes on things above, not on the traumatic suffering I was facing on earth. I trusted the Father's Love so completely as I walked My path of suffering. And that Love triumphed spectacularly, even crushing death!

Consider and meditate on this, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart! Fix your eyes on Me. Take up your cross, deny yourself, and walk your own path of suffering with your heart-eyes fixed securely on My relentless, unfailing, death-crushing Love that trumps all else. 

Just Rest

"Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

You cannot rush rest, dear one. There is no substitute for the soul-rest that I offer. No quick alternative that can yield the same result. This is because the process of entering My rest is just as important as the refreshing you get as a result. It is a sacrificial offering of your time and attention. It requires you giving up something you value highly, for something that is absolutely priceless.

 

I make you to lie down in the green pastures of My Presence. I lead you by the still waters, the living water of My Spirit. Here, I restore your soul as you wait and abide with Me. (Psalm 23)

Sometimes you are so ready to flop down and soak up the soul-rest that I offer. At other times, your heart and mind are in conflict. Your heart craves this, but your mind is impatient, wanting to rush on ahead. 

You remember as a child, your parents built rest-time into your daily routine. You resisted time and again, and hated to admit that you felt better afterwards. Sometimes you have that same childish approach to soul-rest. "But I'm so busy, I've got so much to get done, I can't afford the time, and anyway, I don't need this right now."

You DO need this. This is how I've created you - to function at your best with regular soul-rest. Just give in to Me, dear one. Come rest awhile with Me. Don't watch the clock. Put everything else aside and just breathe in the freshness of My Presence. Just stay here with Me a while. Just rest.

Perfect and Beautiful Truth

Hear this:

I make you to be blessed and a blessing forever! I make you exceedingly glad with the joy of My Presence. As you trust in Me, through My unfailing Love, you will not be shaken! (from Psalm 21:6-7)

Delight in these gems of promises you are finding in My Word as you read it each day. I AM always true to My Word. It is impossible for Me to lie. I AM wholly trustworthy. Believe this!! I AM the firm foundation under your feet. The Rock, in which you trust. My Truth stands, unaltered forever. Place your hope firmly in My Truth, perfect and beautiful Truth. 

Learn to love My Word more and more. As you do, you will fall more and more in love with Me, as I reveal Myself to you through My Word. You cannot know Me apart from My Word. My Word is the gateway to greater awareness of My Presence.

My Word is far more than printed text on a page. It is ALIVE and FULL OF POWER (Hebrews 4:12).  My Word is an integral ingredient in victorious living. When you face temptation, confusion, or come up against a situation in which you just have no clue what to do next...call to mind My Word, and speak out My Truth. Remember that My Word is the sword in your spiritual armour (Ephesians 6:17). Learn to wield your sword with confidence.

Guard Against Self-Pity

Continue to be on your guard against self-pity. Feeling sorry for yourself, however justified it seems, is just not helpful! Wallowing in self-pity leaves your heart muddy, and your soul downcast. Do not seek others' pity, either. This does not mean that you ought to bottle up your sadness, though. 

When you are feeling sad, bring it to Me. Pour your heart out, cry all the tears you need to - but don't leave it at that! Follow David's example from Psalms (e.g. Psalm 42)...speak out Truth and Hope! Declare My Goodness! Sing out praise for My Faithfulness! Recite the ways that I have come through for you in the past. List the ways I have come through for others. Call to mind all the ways I am showing you that I am with you now. 

Delight yourself in Me, in all the wonder of My unfailing and relentless Love. Why wallow in self-pity, when you can dance in My Love instead? Lift up your heart-eyes to My Face. Your soul will be satisfied and lifted up.

I Am Your Strength

I know that when you start the day in weariness, you often wonder if you have the strength to face the challenges that will inevitably arise. Of course you don't! Not in yourself. But take heart, for it is I who equip you with strength (Psalm 18:32). 

As you come to Me, bring what little energy and strength you have, and offer it up to Me. I AM your strength (Psalm 18:1). As you rest in My Presence, your strength will be renewed. But My intention is not for you to go out from My Presence and run your "batteries" flat, then come back for a recharge. Instead, as you carry My Presence through each day, you are continually connected with your source of strength. This is how I designed you, to walk in continual connection with Me.

You Cannot Contain Me

I love to see how eagerly you look forward to our time together each morning. I love it when you bring your sacrifice of praise, when you make time to worship and glorify Me. I love how this delights your heart also! It brings Me so much joy that you fight distractions and inconveniences to keep our daily "dates". You bless My heart, dear one!

You used to think that if you did not manage to get up before everyone else, time with Me just would not happen. But you are learning - I am not so small as to be limited by such things! 

Our time when no one else is up is special, but so is this wild, crazy worship dancing with your children! I laugh with joy to watch this love-filled explosion of worship!

You are learning that our time does not have to look the same every day. I want to break down your misconceptions of what "time with God" means! I want to break out into your life in so many different ways. I want to spill over into your dreams! I want to burst out into your parenting! I want to explode into your friendships! You cannot contain Me! Watch and see what I shall do!! 

Fullness of Joy

Psalm 16

When you feel like you can't breathe, step back into My Presence. It is an expanse of Grace in which you can truly breathe, and find space to be. This is the rest I call you to. 

You can enter this rest any time you like! I have bought you eternal access, through My life blood, My death and resurrection. You honour Me when you make use of the access that I've paid so dearly for. Do not hold back because you feel you don't deserve it - this dishonours Me! It is already bought and paid for!

There is a storm raging around you, and you are feeling buffeted and tossed about. Lean back into My Presence - you are completely safe here. I AM your refuge, your shelter, your strong tower. Fear has no power to hurt you here. Lean into Me, and breathe. Find rest for your soul here, dear one. Rest, and be refreshed.  

You have no reason to fear, though the storm rages wildly about you and shows no sign of letting up. You are held secure in My Love. "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." (Deuteronomy 33:27) You are enveloped by My Presence. You do not need to leave. You do not need to step out again into the storm, unprotected. Carry My Presence with you, dear one. 

This is the secret to joy-filled, victorious living - I am making known to you the path of life...that in My Presence there is FULLNESS OF JOY! (Psalm 16:11) As you carry My Presence with you, you are not ruled by your circumstances. Your feelings dictate your demeanor no longer! You will not be shaken, because I AM always before you and at your right hand. (Psalm 16:8) You can rest secure, your heart can be glad and your whole being rejoice, for in My Presence is fullness of joy. FULLNESS OF JOY, dear heart, FULLNESS OF JOY!

 

Step Out On The Water

Matthew 14:22-33

I am asking you to trust Me more completely than you ever have before. I know that you would not have chosen this path willingly; but you can see it as a path to deeper trust in Me. You simply cannot walk it without Me. I'm asking you to step out on the water. This is not something you can do on your own - I AM the enabling power - but I require YOU to take the steps in faith. I cannot take the steps for you, but I can empower you to stay above the waves. You need to do the walking. 

Keep your eyes absolutely fixed on Me! Do not let your eyes drop from My Face. Do not look around at your circumstances, or you will surely sink. Determine to focus entirely on My Face. Be transfixed by My gaze of Love. Lose all awareness of your current circumstances in the Light of My Face. Fix your eyes so securely on Me that My Face is more real to you than doctors' best-case scenarios. Let your attention be held by My gaze of Love. There is so much I can impart to you through My gaze...so much Love, Truth, and Hope. As you are transfixed by My gaze, My reality becomes more real to you than your circumstances. Like the old hymn says...Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His Glory and Grace. As the Light of My Face shines on you, the fear in you melts away. 

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2)

Unfailing Love

Psalm 13

The battle rages on in your mind and in your heart. Fear versus Love. Fear is whispering to you about all of the variables that are out of you control. You are so weary of wrestling your thoughts into submission. And there is this lingering sorrow in your heart that threatens to swallow you up at a moment's notice. (Psalm 13:2) Sometimes you feel that it is all too exhausting. Sometimes you almost want to give in, wallow in self-pity, and let fear have its way in ravaging your mind. 

BUT...take heart, My dear one. Find your soul's rest in My Presence. Choose to trust in My unfailing Love. Choose to rejoice in My salvation. Sing with joy to Me, declaring My goodness with your whole heart! (Psalm 13:5-6) This actually builds up your heart's strength, dear one. It gives you wings.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Hope in Me. Trust in My unfailing Love. Remember, it is the one constant in this ever-changing world. It never changes, it never gives up, it never wavers. Perfect Love, balm for your soul! 

Grounded In Me

Resist the urge to rush ahead and plan every detail of your day. Savour this time with Me. You see the world around you in terms of to-do lists and obligations. I want to give you a new way of looking at life! I want to show you how your heart attitude can flow out of this time of connection with Me. Your day will still be busy, chaotic at times, but you can stay grounded in Me.

This grounding in Me flows out of this time of soaking in My Presence. This sets the tone for your day - but don't cross Me off your to-do list once you move on to the rest of your day. Carry this heart-rest through your day. Carry My Presence through your day. 

Talk to Me through your day in the way your children chatter away to you about what they are doing. Involve Me in your busy life. Climb up into My lap for "just because" cuddles, the way your children do with you in the midst of their busy playtime. Be loathe to do anything without an awareness of having My company. This is how we do life together.