Always Worthy

"Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!" Psalm 117

We've talked about this before, but let's go over it again. Praise is not situation-dependent. You do not praise Me when things seem (to you) to be going well, and then withhold it when you are unhappy with the way your circumstances are progressing. 

In psychology, you have been taught to use praise as a reward. You praise to reward behaviours that you want to see more of, behaviours that you approve of. You withhold praise and ignore behaviours that you want to see less of, behaviours that you disapprove of. But you cannot train Me, Beloved. I do not bend to your will by strategic use of praise. You cannot make Me love you any more than I already do - that is an impossibility! 

I will not jump through a hoop for a treat, dear one. You praise Me because I AM. My Presence, My Existence deserves praise. I AM always worthy, regardless of what I do or don't do. 

Moreover, praise moves your heart. When your eyes have slipped from My Face, praise restores the connection. When you are feeling helpless, praise restores Truth of My Sovereignty. When things are not going the way think they should, praise realigns you with Me, with My will. 

So, declare with the psalmist right now: "Great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever! Praise the Lord!"

It Is Well

"Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 116:7-9

You have cried, prayed and surrendered your precious daughter entirely into My Hands...know that this is THE SAFEST place she could ever possibly be!! Be it on the operating table, or at home in your arms, she is safest when yielded to Me completely.

For your Hope does not rest on the surgeon or the anaethetist or any other medical professional, no matter how wonderfully talented they may be. Your Hope rests absolutely securely on the Truth that I AM GOD! This Truth is not affected by circumstances! It stands, Unchanging and Unchangeable! It is the reason that you can say, "Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you." It is the reason you can say, "It is well with my soul."

 

You Need Me

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness...You who fear him, trust in the Lord - he is their help and shield...he will bless those who fear the Lord - small and great alike. It is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord." Psalm 115:1,11,13,18

Come to Me, Beloved. Come spend time in My Arms. You cannot face this alone, nor in just remembering My Presence. You need Me. Time in My Presence. Rest for your weary soul. Refreshment for your aching heart. I AM all you need! I AM the supplier of ALL your needs, dear one. I AM your strength - apart from Me, you would collapse in a heap. This burden would be too much for you to bear. But I AM here to carry it for you, dear one!

Keep your eyes locked on My Face. Remember, My gaze imparts so much to you - Hope, Strength, Peace, Patience in the waiting. Don't let your eyes slip from My Face, even for a moment. For then you may see the waves and believe their power to be greater than Mine. Keep your eyes glued to My Face, and I will cause your feet to walk on the water. I will not let you slip and be overcome by the waves. I will not let you drown.  

Tender Presence

"Tremble, O earth, at the Presence of the Lord, at the Presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water." Psalm 114:7-8

My Presence is powerful, and My Presence is tender. I long for connection with you, Beloved.  As you sit and watch your precious daughter sleeping - willing her to open her eyes and turn her face to you - you are longing for connection with her. You hover over her, never forcing that connection, but longing, waiting for her to be ready. You know it is what she NEEDS - to be held by you, to stare into your eyes. Yet you long for this for your own heart as well.

I have created you with your mother heart in the image of My Father Heart. There is much you can learn about My Love for you as your heart aches for Verity.

I hover over you all day, every day, precious daughter.  Longing for you to wake from your slumber and turn your eyes to My Face.  Never forcing that connection, but pining for it.  I know that it is what you NEED most - to be held by My arms, to stare into My eyes; and I long for this connection for My own heart too.

How it thrills your heart when she does open her eyes and turn her trusting gaze to you.  When she is fretting, you pick her up and she relaxes into your embrace.  Precious moments to savour!!

When you are fretting, relax into My Embrace, dear one.  Turn your trusting eyes to My Face and let Me comfort you with My tender Presence.

Praise!

"Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised."

As you sit watching the sun rise, let your heart be filled with praise for Me. This is your natural response to the beauty you find when you turn your eyes to Me. My beauty and My Goodness cause praise to rise in your soul.  Speak it out, declare it, sing with joy of your love for Me!

While praise is a natural response to reflecting on who I am, it is so much more than this.  It is a fact that praise is due Me - always and forever.  It is written into the laws of the universe - My name MUST be praised. It is written into the very structure of My creation. So when you choose to praise Me, you are standing in agreement with Heaven and all of earth's creation.

The ruler of this world would have you believe that it is unnatural for you to praise Me, especially when facing difficult circumstances.  He would have you blame Me instead. But he is the father of lies and there is no Truth in him. 

As you face this day, choose to do the most truly natural thing in the world, and PRAISE ME with your whole heart!

Mighty In The Land

"Praise the Lord.  Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.  His children will be mighty in the land;  the generation of the upright will be blessed... Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate man... He will have no fear of bad news;  his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes." Psalm 112:1-2,4,7-8

What joy there is to be found in soaking in My Truth!  My Words are Life, restoring your soul. Your hope rests secure in My Truth... Not in doctors' opinions which change from day to day.  Not in your emotions which shift from hour to hour.  But on MY TRUTH!

I have a mighty plan for Verity Hope.  I told your all along that her name is prophetic.  See if you can imagine how I will use this precious girl! Mighty in the land, Beloved! Mighty in the land.

The dawn is coming, My darling.  Do you see it? Dawn means NO FEAR OF BAD NEWS;  because you are walking in My Reality rather than earthly "reality". I am steadying your heart, Beloved, casting out fear.  "Bad news" may still come,  but you need not fear it.  I AM GREATER!

Wondrous Works

"Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.  Great are the works of the Lord: they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever." Psalm 111:1-3

I am the Lord your God. Set your heart to remembering what this means, Beloved.

Look at your precious brand new daughter - her sheer existence is evidence of my wondrous works.  Celebrate her life, wonder in her beauty. 

There is so much more that I want to show you in the days to come.  As you pine to hold her, rejoice in Me that she is alive on this earth. Rejoice in what I am going to do. Then rest secure, knowing I hold her life in My Hands.

But On My Power

"My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." 2 Corinthians 2:4-5

You do not know what today holds. Such mixed emotions welling up in you heart.  Keep your eyes fixed on Me, dear one.  Now, more than ever.  Your faith does not rest on men's wisdom, but on My Power. Fix your eyes firmly on Me, and do not look to the left or to the right.

Let me hold you in perfect peace, as you keep your mind fixed on Me.  I love you dearly, you know this to be true.  Rest in My Love.  Any time you need, you can retreat to My Presence and rest in My Love.  Remember this, Beloved.

Light-Radiating Presence

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15

Rest here in My Presence. Refresh your aching, weary soul. Be still and know with all your being that I AM God! Let this Truth permeate your whole existence. 

As you go forward from this place, you carry My manifest Presence with you. I am resplendent with Light. I clothe myself in Light. It radiates from My Presence. When you walk into thick darkness, My Light-radiating Presence goes with you, and shatters the darkness! Darkness cannot remain in My Radiant Presence, so you can expect to see circumstances shift. 

It starts here, Beloved. Here in the secret place. You cannot fake this or force this. This is where you invest time, learning to steward My Presence well. Most of all, it takes TIME and REST. Let yourself completely relax, and soak in My Presence without guilt. The to-do list can wait. Rest here with Me and wait awhile. 

Awaken The Dawn!

"My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn." Psalm 108:1-2

I have told you that the dawn is coming. It is coming, Beloved. Can you sense the anticipation? Though the night feels long and dark, the dawn is coming. Listen for the first sounds of birdsong. Watch for the gradual lifting of the darkness...But you need not remain passive, dear one. "Sing and make music with all your soul!" You can awaken the dawn! 

The darkness cannot remain in the Presence of Light. You can call forth My Light when you sing My Praise with all of your might. Do not be shy or self-conscious about this - let go of all reservations and SING! Sing declarations of My Goodness, My Love, My Faithfulness. Defy the darkness of your circumstances by joyfully singing to Me. The darkness loses all power to oppress you when you sing out in faith. 

Declare Truth. Sing out in the Spirit. Sing out prophesy over your daughter, as I lead you. Wield this beautiful weapon of Light and watch the darkness retreat, and the dawn arrive in brilliant splendour!!

My Love

"Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord." Psalm 107:43

Never forget My great Love. I know each and every intimate detail of your life and of the challenges you are facing. Lean into My Love. Let it wash over you, cleansing away the fear that stains your mind. 

Meditate on My Love, dwell in the Truth that My Love is unfailing...that is, it cannot fail you. My Love cannot leave you, and it is impossible for My Love to let you down. 

My Love is the most powerful force in the universe. It defied and conquered death, once and for all. My Love carries you. Stop kicking and flailing, struggling to walk by yourself. Just lean back into My Love and relax. Let yourself be carried by the tenderest arms in existence. 

Let all of your anxiety melt away in the Presence of My Love. I've got this, Beloved. I really do. There is no uncertainty from My Perspective. Rest in My Love, knowing I'll take care of all the details - big and small.

Control

You are grasping for control again, Beloved. That is why you feel so very put out when things don't go your way. Let go of your attempts to control - even your own domain. Everything is about to be thrown into what seems like chaos to you. Things in your home will not be "your way". This is okay. This is right. 

Turn your desire for control to your own behaviour! You can control how often you turn your face to Me; how often you lean into My Presence; how you respond to changes in your plans. You are going to need to be flexible in the days and weeks to come. The only thing worth clinging to is the Rock that is higher than you. I AM the unchanging, the unchangeable. I AM steadfast in the uncertainty you face. Cling to Me for dear life. 

Remember that this is not chaos to Me. It is not uncertain to Me. I see all, I know the outcome already. I see the bigger picture, and this all fits together so beautifully. Put your hand in Mine, and step forward with Me, dear one. Trust Me with your whole heart. 

Fearfully and Wonderfully

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All of the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:13-16

I created you, and I created your precious daughter. I knit her together, Beloved. You know My works are GOOD! She is fearfully and wonderfully made, regardless of what mere man says about her. I do not make mistakes! Her life is precious to Me, and has purpose and meaning; a hope and a future. This is Truth, regardless of how circumstances appear. Regardless of what happens. Hold firm to this Truth. 

The enemy seeks to use circumstances to "prove" to you that I am not Good, that I am a liar, that I am not Love. Refuse to entertain the enemy's lies, even for a moment. Keep your eyes fixed on Me, and you will see through the exact same circumstances just how much I love you, and how much you matter to Me. 

No Safer Place

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God." Isaiah 43:1-3

Fear has no place in your heart, though your circumstances are screaming at you to be terrified. Fear not, Beloved. I AM WITH YOU. There is no safer place to be than in My Presence. You carry My Presence with you as you pass through the waters; as you walk through the fire. Think of Shadrach, Meschach and Abednigo - My Presence with them defied the laws of physics. Is this so hard to believe? I created the laws of physics, so of course they are subject to Me. They walked around in the fire "unbound and unharmed" (Daniel 3:25), and not a single hair on their heads was singed! 

Beloved, you carry My Presence with you. You will carry My Presence into the operating theatre, into intensive care units, into hospital wards. Where you are, there am I with you.

Eyes Off Circumstances

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105:1-4

Circumstances appear bleak. They are demanding your attention, like a storm raging around you. You feel like your shelter will come tumbling down around you at any minute. Nothing is sure except for Me. I AM the Rock that is higher. Cling to Me, Beloved. Lift your eyes from your circumstances, and fix them firmly on My Face. Over and over, as often as you can during this day. Every time your circumstances appear bigger than Me, remember: EYES OFF CIRCUMSTANCES, EYES ON JESUS! Look to Me and My Strength, seek My Face always. 

Fear can only cripple and drown you so long as your eyes are on your circumstances. When your eyes are fixed on Me, you can walk on the waves. Be absolutely doggedly persistent and resolute in keeping your eyes fixed on Me. This is your most important task today. Eyes off circumstances, eyes on Jesus!

King of the Uneven Exchange

Breathe deeply here in My Presence. Just let go of all the busy thoughts buzzing around in your head right now. Yes, you have a big week ahead, but I am bigger. I can carry you through each and every scary appointment by My Grace. As always, your best preparation is to invest time here, in our secret place. 

This is where you bring your own agenda and striving and lay it at My feet in total surrender to My will. Here, you take My yoke upon yourself, after giving Me yours. I am King of the uneven exchange - it is My delight to bear your burdens for you. Remember this!

Sure Thing!

"I'm sure it will all work out fine." How it grates when people say this to you. On what basis are they able to be so certain? Just some vague "feeling" or wishful thinking? You know people say this because they do not know what else to say, or because they are trying to be "positive". 

It grates on you for a reason, Beloved. You know that these are empty words when separated from Me. But I am not empty! I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life! You can place your Hope securely in Me. Faith is being sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you do not see. Walk by Faith, dear one, not by sight. 

Hope in Me is a sure thing! You are not placing your hope in an expected or desired outcome or set of circumstances, but in a Person. I promise to never leave you or forsake you. This way, whatever circumstances you face, you will be able to say, "It is well with my soul."

Just Be Held

O Beloved, you are weary and anxious about many things. Come sit by Me awhile. You are trying to plan far too much again. Remember your best preparation - to practise dwelling in My Presence. 

Your head is spinning with the things left on your to-do list; and you have no energy to face any of them. Just stop fretting, My dear one. Be still and know that I am God. Let Me cover you with My Love - let that be enough for you!

Your extensive planning is an attempt to hold the fear at bay. When you sit with Me, you can admit to yourself that you are still terrified of the unknown in the coming days and weeks. Let me cover you with My Love. My Perfect Love casts out fear. "Stop holding on and just be held."

Soul Restoring

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles." Psalm 103:1-5

When your soul feels weary, and is reluctant to praise Me or seek Me, you need to talk to yourself! Remind yourself of who I am, and what I have done for you. When you truly dwell on the vastness of who I am and what I have done for you, you cannot help but burst out in grateful praise. This kind of reflection is restorative for your soul. Make time for it, Beloved. Do not allow the enemy to distract you from it - especially not now! You need this more than ever right now.

First Thought

How your heart treasures and anticipates the mornings. The beautiful of sound of thump, then pitter-patter of your son jumping out of bed and running out of his room. With such delight, you wait for his appearance by your side with his arms outstretched, his voice full of love, calling your name!

It seems that his first thought upon waking is to immediately run to your arms for long, warm cuddles to start the day. How you both love and cherish these moments.

Let us be this way, Beloved. Oh, that your first thought upon waking would be to run to My arNo other agenda other than to share arms for long, warm cuddles to start the day. No other agenda than to share our love with each other. This brings joy to us both. Moments to treasure. 

 

Master Embroiderer

"But you remain the same, and your years will never end. The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you." Psalm 102:27-28

I AM the Beginning and the End. Unchanging and unchangeable. The Eternal One. I live outside of the constraints of time and space. Dwell in this Truth, and be amazed. 

I have loved you since before you were. I dreamed you up and laughed in wonder. You are My Handiwork, like the vast galaxies. Dwell in this Truth, and be astounded.

I am creating a work of art with your yielded life. There is not a thread out of place, though you look and see ugly knots and snares. There is no bad luck, no random chance - everything is subject to My Hands, as Master Embroiderer. I am able to create a beautiful masterpiece that astounds and amazes the viewer by the clever use of knots and matted threads. I love to work with your yielded life. 

Choose Wisely

"My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me." Psalm 101:6

Choose your companions wisely, Beloved. Don't allow just anyone access to your heart. Seek out others who are seeking Me wholeheartedly. Encourage each other to press in, to not give up. 

How you spend your time does matter to Me. Choose to surround yourself with people and activities that increase your desire for more of Me. Limit the access of people and activities that dull your appetite for Me. 

Don't listen to the enemy's lie that it doesn't matter. If you truly want to tune into My voice more consistently, it is vital that you tune out more distractions.

Open the Gates

"Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs...Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Psalm 100:2,4

Beloved, you know by now that thanksgiving opens the gates to My Presence; praise ushers you into the courts of My Presence. It does your heart good to worship Me with gladness, especially when your heart is downcast. 

Do not be discouraged by the appearance of your circumstances, but know that I am God; it is I who made you, you are Mine, the sheep of My pasture. I am Good, and My Love endures forever; My Faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:3,5) 

Dwell in this Truth. This is the irrefutable Truth that your Hope is securely anchored to. Speak it out, sing it out, shout it out - declare your agreement with it! Make this your daily practice - start each day with joyful songs of praise to Me. 

Love

I have loved you with an Everlasting Love.  Lean back into My Love in your weariness.  You cannot fathom the depth, breadth or height of My Love. You anthropomorphise Me - give My Love human qualities it does not possess.  I cannot be unfaithful.  It is in My very nature to be completely faithful, trustworthy and Good. I cannot lie. I cannot cheat you.  I cannot stop loving you. 

I love your daughter with this same Love.  I have created her, she is Mine.  Any delight or joy you have in thinking about her cannot possibly begin to match Mine. You cannot outlove Me, Beloved. 

Lean back into My Love and trust Me to carry you through. 

Planting Joy

"Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Know this: you can have JOY even in weakness, exhaustion and sorrow! Yes, it is true! This is not some kind of forced smile on your face, but joy that radiates from the inside - from our secret place, the garden of your heart where you meet with Me hourly, daily. 

I know this still confuses your rational mind. There is a lingering "martyr syndrome" buried deep in your heart. This part of you craves others' pity and sympathy for what you are going through, and admiration for how you are coping with it. This is sinful, prideful and ugly to Me. It is the part of you that tells you to put on a "brave face" - so long as it is one that shows how brave you are being. You must be serious...RUBBISH! 

I want to tear this poisonous weed out by the roots! I want to do a new work in you. I want to plant joy deep within you. Beautiful, unshakeable, abiding joy. My joy, which will give you strength for every difficulty you face, whether big or small. Joy that will grow up in you and flower over and over - petals falling and fragrance spreading into the lives of those you meet each day. 

Align Yourself With Heaven

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music." Psalm 98:4

There are times when the last thing on earth that you feel like doing is to shout for joy to Me, and burst into jubilant song with music. When your heart is overflowing with sorrow, not only do you not feel like bursting into song - it actually seems totally wrong and inappropriate. 

But remember this: singing praise to Me is not for when you feel like it. I am teaching you that it is a beautiful, powerful weapon of Light that pushes back the darkness, tears down strongholds, and sends the enemy packing!

When night seems to be closing in around you, it is an act of your will, a choice you can make, to throw your head back and sing with all your might of My Goodness. In this act, you join with the angels, you align yourself with Heaven, you position yourself in agreement with the highest Truth that I AM Sovereign, and that I AM Loving - even when your circumstances seem to say otherwise.

Personal Agenda

"Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart." Psalm 97:11

How you react to frustrating changes to your plans for the day shows you are still walking in your own strength, operating in "D.I.Y. mode". To truly rely on Me, you need to lay down your own agenda. Pray with all your heart, then focus all your energy on trusting Me completely. 

When you do only the first part of this - praying with all your heart - you are praying with a personal agenda. No matter how good an agenda it is, it is still your plan. This leads to disappointment if My plan differs from your plan. And if you do not check it, disappointment leads to self-pity and bitterness. 

So...pray with all your heart, then trust Me with all your heart. I know your heart's desires, and I see bigger picture. I am for you, dear one. I am with you, but I am also before you and behind you. As you invest time and energy in trusting Me, you will walk in My Light, with joy in your heart, regardless of how the path differs from your desired route. 

A New Song

"Sing to the Lord a new song..." Psalm 96:1

You do not need to live with tired old thought patterns, tired old "stories" that seek to define you AND Me. In Me, all things are made new. The old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

The "I can't cope with this" story is dead and buried, and replaced with "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  

The "God is no truly good, He is mean and wants me to suffer" story is dead and buried, and replaced with "God causes ALL THINGS to work together for the good of those who love Him."  

The "I'm hard-done-by" story is dead and buried, and replaced with "I am loved with an everlasting, unfailing love."  

The "I couldn't possibly face that" story is dead and buried, and replaced with "I can face anything, as long as I remain dwelling in the One who has incomparably great power, and can do far above and beyond all I could ask for or imagine."

Sing a NEW SONG of praise to Me today!