Shout of Faith

I am your God of all comfort, even as you feel so very uncomfortable. Dare to believe My "much greater" rather than your feelings, "much less". Abide in Me as you rest to wellness, and choose joy! 

Keep your eyes fixed steadfastly on Me, and not on what you can see or how you feel. Trust Me with your whole heart, Beloved. 

Give your shout of faith before you can see the outworking! Remember that I AM with you ALWAYS, in every situation! 

A New Precedent

Beloved, there is a battle raging - refuse to give up hard-won ground! When you done all you can do, stand! Fix your eyes on Me - get your eyes off your pain and onto Me. This is part of the process of Me breaking the power of fear off your life! In pain, you react out of fear - all you can think about is escaping the pain!

Beloved, I have a higher way. I want to reach through your pain and lift your eyes to Me. I want you to be so transfixed by My beauty and glory that you no longer notice your pain! I want My voice to be louder to you than the screaming of your pain! Refuse to give attention to your pain and focus all your concentration on gazing on My face and listening to My voice. Here I will unfold the mysteries that you have been longing to understand! 

 Take the issue of "on earth as it is in heaven" - the reality is, sin and sickness are on earth, and I delight in robbing the enemy of his tools and using them for My purposes! They make good teachers. You are learning deep abiding through this sickness, and conquering your feelings (not letting them boss you around), that you would not have learned this week if you had received miraculous healing. 

You are learning to contend - not necessarily for miracles at this stage - but for mastery over sin, which is more important by far at this stage of the journey. The lessons you are learning in taking and holding ground will serve you well when we move into miracles. Stand firm and refuse to give an inch of ground to fear, self-pity, discouragement, disappointment or bitterness. 

Thank and praise Me for all I am doing in you at this time. Let My joy rise in your spirit throughout this day. Your cheerful heart will be good medicine to your infected body (Prov 17:22)! Believe it, Beloved! 

You are setting a new precendent, My Precious One! A whole new approach to sickness in your home - one that leads you deeper into joy and victory in Me! While you will not look forward to sickness in the future, you will not fear and dread it like you previously did! "We know the secrets of the fireswamp...we can live there quite happily for some time, so whenever you feel like dying, feel free to visit!" (The Princess Bride movie)

via GIPHY

Your Joy Is My Reward

Your Joy Is My Reward (song by Candice Barnes, 2016)

I refuse to be discouraged by what my eyes can see
I refuse to be discouraged by what's not happening
I will trust You with my whole heart,
I will trust You, Lord!
I will trust You with my whole heart -
Your joy is my reward!

I refuse to yield to self-pity for how I feel right now
I refuse to yield to self-pity
My feelings cannot boss me around.
I will praise You with my whole heart,
I will praise You, Lord!
I will praise You with my whole heart -
Your joy is my reward!

Creative Process

When discouragement is taken out of the creative process, you are free to practise, mess up and try again in joy, without feeling as though you are the failure. Your mistakes may look hideous to you, but sometimes they are just a few tweaks away from being amazing! Refusing to let discouragement influence your creative process will release increase in creativity and joy! 

Redeemed Will

Beloved, can you trust Me enough to show you Truth and keep you from error? You do not have to be one hundred percent sold out to the teaching of one person or movement in order to truly benefit from aspects of it! No one is completely free from error. Just trust that I can expose the lies to you as you listen to My Spirit and live in My Word. 

It is true that in heaven My Will is done perfectly and heaven is free from sickness, sin and sorrow. But it is equally true that I can use the pain and sickness of this world to shape you and sanctify you. 

As you grow in Me and in revelation of your role as co-heir with Christ, you can also grow in asking in faith for things you need. That is not to say that you should not also accept everything from My hand with joy...as you embrace My provision in every circumstance, you are trusting that I can use this situation to your good, whether it be to teach you persistence and joy in the midst of trials, or seeing miracles released into your life. Both are equally valid and you will not always be able to tell one from the other upfront. Your response can still be the same - yield yourself entirely to Me, and also ask for what you need, simply and in faith. I will show you if and when you need to contend. 

Your will is redeemed, Beloved! You yield in joyful obedience as I yielded to My Father. 

DIS-couragement

Let's talk about discouragement again. Beloved, as I told Joshua to be strong and very courageous, I speak the same to you. I, who showed enormous courage in facing the terrible suffering of the cross, dwell in you!  I AM your courage! Becoming DIS-couraged speaks of being robbed of your courage. This can only happen if you allow the enemy to steal from you. Keep that door locked, barred and guarded - do not listen to a single whisper! The discourager would rob you of the comfort I give.

Breathe Me in deeply and trust My healing and My provision. Let joy rise in you. Celebrate all that I am doing! You are taking ground in Me. We are showing the enemy that sickness is no longer an entry point in your life. We are laughing in the face of the enemy, for what he intended for harm is driving you deeper into victory! Ha ha!! Joy, Beloved! Let's dance on the head of the enemy!! 

A Son's Obedience

Rest into wellness today, Beloved - rest and rejoice, even before you feel well. Sing and declare healing over yourself and your family. Embrace the lovely rest day in My Presence. Refuse to be disappointed or discouraged - just rest in Me and enjoy My Presence. 

You are moving into friendship wtih Me, but you are also My Beloved Child. Just as there is an element of friendship between grown child and parent, yet there is still a parental relationship. As you grow up in Me, there are times I need to discipline you, yet there are also times of genuine sharing heart-to-heart. 

As you grow in revelation of who you are in Me, you will see just how much I love you - your personality, likes, dislikes, preferences, talents, hobbies, pursuits and your will. Yes, I will share secrets with you and allow you to influence Me. We parter together - I gave you your unique personality and I love it! I do not want you to give that up - just to give up all expressions of sin nature that is already dead. That is the pruning of the branch - as you give yourself up to the process, I can activate aspects of your personality that have lain dormant. You can discover whole new personality traits that you never knew you had! This is Me giving you a new name and calling out things I see in you that you cannot see yourself. There would be no space for these aspects to grow if I was not pruning you. 

My obedience to My Father is not a slave's obedience, but a son's obedience, flowing from Love and intimacy. My Father does not threaten Me or intimidate Me into obedience - it gives Me joy to humble Myself and do what He wills. The greater your level of intimacy with Me, the more I can share My reasons behind what I ask of you. In coming to earth, I knew what the Father wanted Me to do...but I also knew why. It was this that enabled Me to suffer immense pain adn torture - for the joy set before Me! I understood why My Father asked this "impossible" task, and yielded Myself to His will out of Love for Him and Love for you! 

As you can see, it's all about Love! Growing in Love for Me, as you spend time soaking in My Word and in My Presence, and gazing on Me throughout the day...this Love will naturally overflow to others. The more you gaze on Me, the less you gaze on yourself. I want to release you into new levels of freedom and power, but this comes with less thinking about yourself, not more! These changes began in earnest as you let Me show you how I see you - perfectly loved and perfectly righteous! The beauty of this new identity is that it is founded entirely upon grace - how I see you, through no goodness or work of your own! Yet it is so much more amazing than you could dream up or believe on your own. As you really believe all I say about you, you are released to live more freely and fruitfully than ever before. Self-promotion is not an issue, as you know you are what you are entirely by God's grace.

 

Contending For Victory

Come enter My rest, Beloved. I long to soothe your aching head and kiss your stinging eyes! I am so proud of you for continuing to stand firm against the sins of thoughts and words - being vigilant about not allowing sneaky uninvited guests such as self-pity, discouragement, doubt and guilt to creep in. This is your place of contending for victory - realising that I already have won and declaring that over your circumstances. You do not do this in your own strength, but in the mighty power of Me in you. 

You know that I love to love on your kids through you too. Keep on gazing on Me until you see them through My eyes. 

The feeling of overwhelm which was so familiar just a few months ago is hardly recognisable to you any more. It thrills My heart when you yield every worried or overwhelmed thought immediately as you sense it trying to sneak in the back door of your mind. It is as you yield your worries to Me that I can cause My peace to radiate out of you. Everywhere you go, you radiate My peace, it shifts atmospheres and touches people around you! 

No more "frazzled Mum looking for sympathy", but an peace-filled Mum extending grace and love. Others can see a change in you! They will ask how you do it - don't hold back in sharing the Truth of Jesus Christ, the Hope of Glory! 

Yield Every Thought To Me

Beloved, you are not ruled by your feelings. Hold on to this Truth when everything in you is crying out to be heard. Refuse to let self-pity, doubt, second guessing, discouragement, confusion, fear or guilt have a say - yield every thought to Me, over and over, as quickly as they bombard you! Rejoice in the peace you have in Me!

Never once did I complain, though I was tempted to sin just as much as any human. Through the Spirit's power, I did not sin in thought or deed or by failing to do something. I want to keep living this Spirit-empowered life through you! As you keep saying "Yes!" to Me, you are saying "No!" to the enemy and to sin.

Come Play With Me!

Beloved, come play with Me! It is just as important to make time in your day to play with Me, as it is to commune with Me in a more serious way. Come laugh with Me, do some swing dancing, slide down the waterfall then relax into complete rest, floating in the River of Life.

No More Disappointment or Discouragement

Beloved, you used to think that the key to avoiding disappointment was to "manage your expectations" - but this essentially meant expecting a low level outcome and anything better was a bonus. But this did not work very well, as it was from a negative, earthbound perspective. Beloved, you could not understand how to be expectant in faith, but then not disappointed if things you hoped for did not come to pass. 

A child who loves and trusts her Father perfectly and knows that she is loved perfectly can ask Daddy for anything with hopeful expectancy, and joyfully accept a "no" or "not yet", because she trusts Him completely - and knows He has His perfect, unselfish reasons for that answer. These reasons are never lack of supply, for Daddy has access to unlimited supply! These reasons are never manipulative or on a selfish whim. These reasons always flow from Perfect Love. Trust Me completely, My Dear Child. 

You never need be beset by disappointment or discouragement again! 

Yes and Amen

How beautifully different and glorious it is to wake on the day of a big event after a calm night's sleep with a peaceful heart - no stress at all! To run into your Daddy's arms, climb up on His lap, and kiss Him all over His face. You take His face in your hands and ask with complete confidence, "Please can I have Your peace dwell in me all day? And Love that overflows and fills this house and spills on everyone who comes through that door? Thank you, Daddy!"

You have good parents but you were often afraid to ask them for things because you thought there was never enough to go around. But you have let go of the pauper's rags and poverty mindset, and you now know you belong to the King of kings who has all supply! 

Ask and you will receive as you ask "in My name" - that is, as you live in union withMe, it is I within you who asks on your behalf, though you speak the words, and My Father's response is "Yes! And amen!"

How I Love You!

"The shepherd laughed too. 'I love doing preposterous things,' He replied. 'Why, I don't know anything more exhilerating and delightful than turning weakness into strength, and fear into faith, and that which has been marred into perfection.'" (Hinds Feet on High Places)

"You awaken us to delight in Your praise, for You made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You." (St Augustine)

Beloved, how I love you! Your beauty is beyond compare! The tender love you show Me, by your yielded life, thrills My heart and captivates Me. I am  yours and you are Mine. Beloved, come dance with Me this morning, upon the grassy hills of the secret garden. 

You twirl and spin with your garment of praise - such beauty and grace delights and enraptures Me. To see the laid-down love in your eyes as you dance for My delight gives Me joy unspeakable! Your joyful confidence in My Goodness is a beautiful thing! 

I called you awake and out of bed early this morning for this - to pour out My Love and My delight upon you! Not for a word of admonishment or warning - just to Love on you and remind you who you are...One Loved By Me! Embrace this mysterious and delicious Truth today, My Precious One. 

The love you pour out on others flows from this place. Continue to be a channel of My Love, My Darling.  

*****

"Don't yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts - instead, be courageous!" (John 14:27)

There is a constant battle raging for influence over you. You are the one who has power to turn the tide. In every situation, you yield to something - either fear, self-pity, discouragement, fear of man, etc.; or to Me, to My will and to My Love. You get to choose to what you yield. Isn't that exciting? You don't have to let a "discouraging situation" discourage you, if you choose to yield to joyful trust in Me!

The Place of True Heart-Rest

Love is growing in your heart, Beloved. It really is! I can taste the fruit in your heart garden already. 

Beloved, as you are faithful in listening to My voice, yielding your will and obeying joyfully, there will still be things that don't go the way that you expect them to. This does not mean that you heard wrong. Do not second guess - when I call you to a life of obedience; walking with the Spirit; "moving by the impulses of the Spirit"; "moving to the unforced rhythm  of My Grace" - I call you to follow without questioning and second guessing. Do not let doubt in, even for a moment! If you think you are doubting yourself and whether or not you heard correctly, reject this as a lie of the deceiver, the father of lies; for when you yield to Me, you are trusting that I will show you what to do. Go forward, let the past go, even the past of five miutes ago, and press forward in joyful trust and obedience. Trust that I will show you if there is something that you need to follow up on or make right! 

I call you to rest as a lifestyle! My way is to energise you through My Presence, which is best found in the place of true heart-rest. You are learnign to live from this place of rest. It will become a habit, like breathing!

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how i do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matt 11:28-30 The Msg)

Every Little Matter

Be vigilant about handing over every little care and concern to Me. In the parable of the sower, the weeds of life's distractions and cares are what crowd out the kingdom message and "prevent him from bearing spiritual fruit". As you tend your garden, you pull out each weed as I point them out to you. We work on this together. 

Bring every little matter before Me and yield it to Me. I tell you in Philippians 4:6 not to be worried about a thing - and I do not ask anything of you that I do not also expower you to do, th rough My Resurrection Life at work in you! What beautiful freedom! 

In Proverbs 3:5-6, I say to trust in Me completely! And with all your heart to rely on Me to guide you, and I will lead you in all the decisions you make. As you become increasingly intimiate with Me, I'll lead you wherever you go! As you diligently avoid all that is wrong by being in awe and wonder of Me, this is where your healing starts! 

Shed a Greater Light Abroad

Beloved, My Love is not an ulterior motive. I love you, and I want to be with you always, every moment! 

My Love in you is not an ulterior motive, either! You need not feel guilty for wanting to introduce others to me! When you first met and fell in love with your husband, you could not wait for your friends and family to meet him! How much more for Me, who can save them from themselves?!

If you keep gazing on Me, I will open your eyes to needs all around. My Love transforms your vision. Serving need not be a chore! You get the privilege of pouring My Love on others, partnering with Me. It is a joy and a delight! 

Having children will not stop you from serving - in fact, it is imperative that they see your love in action where I send you. Share with them the joy of secret giving, also. 

The world will see Me by your love for one another. This is how I draw people. This Love is genuine, not exclusive. There is always room for another to be welcomed into the embrace. In a world full of insincere "care" with secret hatred, as well as blatant outright hatred, My Lovers will stand out as stars in the universe by their extravagant Love for each other and others. 

Your hearts burn with My all-consuming fire of Love. As you gather together, the flames join as one in Me, and shed a greater light abroad. Others are drawn to this light and the warmth it offers freely to all who would receive it. As you bring others into your cirlce, they are warmed and heartened by the fire, and the longer they spend with you, the more likely their hearts will also be set ablaze. But even before they are, they will benefit from just being near you. As you go about living life with them, they can see more clearly by the light you shine, and feel cared for and warm by the heat your fire gives. Every act of love counts. Not one is wasted.

The Redeemed Personality

"Since this is the kind of life we have chosem, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives." Gal 5:25 (Msg)

Every attribute of your character and your personality is now redeemed. Therefore, the very traits that previously casued you they most trouble can now be your greatest assets. 

You were called a "strong-willed child"...Beloved, when your will is yielded to mine, your strong will is in accordance with Mine,a dn will be tremendously helpful as you stand against the onslaught of arrows from self-pity, fear, victim mentality, discouragement, spirit of heaviness, shame, guilt, or any other of your familiar enemies. Your yielded strong will can help you stand, stubbornly refusing to wallow, insisting on rejoicing in confident trust at all the Anointed One allows to touch your life. 

Behold, the redeemed personality! The redeemed imagination! That which used to torment you can now give you access to amazing adventures with Me!

 

Weapons of Warfare

There is no need to be covered before Me, as you are no longer bound by shame. I have removed your shame. Here in our secret garden, you can walk with Me like Adam and Eve before the fall. Walk and talk, face to face, completely unhindered by shame. 

You are fed directly by My hand - the Bread of Life and the Living Water! This is our private place of intimacy, you are perfectly safe to be yourself here. 

When you go about your day, you need protected. I clothe you in robes of righteousness, in strength and dignity, in the garment of praise and in your armour. You are a warrior-princess! Your dance is your weapon of warfare, as is your song of praise. You have your sandals of readiness of the gospel of peace, your shield of faith, sword of the Spirit, helmet of salvation, belt of Truth and breastplate of righteousness.

As you survey the scene before you, you see everything with the gaze of Love, for you have been staring into My eyes. When you see your children fighting, you see them in the spiritual realm. Instead of seeing them as an inconvenience and an annoyance to deal with, you see them beset within and without by the enemy. In your warrior dance, you attack their enemy with your sword and tend to your children's wounds with loving tenderness. You teach them how to use their weapons too. 

When you need to take flight, you have the Holy Spirit dove to climb onto and soar up high above your circumstances. Then you can survey the scene from above!

The First Gate and the Second

My wisdom is growing in you. See to it that you do not poison the roots by words or thoughts that are unkind, unloving or unlovely. Keep gazing on Me until your heart fills with My Love. 

Words are so very powerful. Therefore, take seriously all of the warnings in My Word to watch every word that comes out of your mouth. 

I am the Bread of Life, I am the Living Water - eat and drink of Me until you have your fill. Beloved, as you "eat My flesh" and "drink My blood" you are partaking in My Lifeforce and allowing Me to live My Life through you. 

Everything that I am will become fruit in your life - you will become patient, kind, compassionate, loving, trusting, generous, passionate, wise, caring...So many of these traits are expressed through your words, so guard your heart carefully as the first gate; and your mouth equally carefully as the second gate. 

You used to think that sanctificiation happened just as you spend "quiet time" in My Presence, but you are learning that every moment of the day is an opportunity to live close to Me and let Me live through you - especially the frustrating, unpleasant, boring and painful moments. Be grateful for these, therefore, and truly yield to and treust Me for My answers in how to deal with each of these.

Free From Fear of Man!

Beloved, during My time on earth as a man, I did not have to work at being free from fear of man - I just kept My eyes fixed on My Father. As long as you are in right relationship with Me and know who you are, you will care less and less about pleasing man, and more and more about loving them as I do. For as long as fear of man motivates you, you will be held back from truly loving others the way I do. 

Fear of man causes you to break the royal law of Love (James 2:8). This is your highest law. 

As you let Me live My Life through you, you will continue to discover greater freedom in this realm. Freedom from fear of man, freedom to love others extravagantly as you love Me. It will come pouring out of you naturally as you abide in Me, constantly yielding up your own selfish desires and reactions. This is how I change you fr4om the inside out!