Patient Endurance

"But that's not all! Even in times of trouble we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!" (Romans 5:3-5, TPT)

Let us talk of endurance. Endurance is not so popular a virtue as it once was. In another time:

"Their favourite virtue was endurance. Not to flinch from pain or hardship was their ideal." (Flora Thompson in "Lark Rise to Candleford")

In your culture, you are told "you have to know when to quit" and "don't flog a dead horse." Endurance has gone out of fashion. But not with Me, Beloved! To Me, it is such a rare and precious joy to see My Loved Ones staying the course with patient endurance. I set the example for ultimate endurance on the cross. Look to My example:

"We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith's perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was filled with the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!" (Hebrews 12:2, TPT)

Oh, Precious One! Fix your eyes upon Me in every moment, just as you have been doing. Keep doing it, over and over, every day, let your heart search for Me in everything. Even, especially in the dull or tiresome moments, the monotonous moments, the achingly difficult moments. As you so often tell your children: "You will get what you are after quicker if you don't stop to have a tantrum on the way." The same goes for you, Beloved. Each time you choose to respond in Love to a situation that is difficult or frustrating, you are developing patient endurance. Each time you react out of your natural human self, you are slowing down that process.

Not every day is going to look the same. I pour My Love on you every day, but My methods as well as My mercies are new every morning. Do not put Me in a box. I love breaking out of boxes -- the tomb could not hold me! I delight in surprising you! Keep on searching for Me in everything. I AM here with you, showing you the way. 

The Treasure Chest

Beloved, you are so afraid of looking back at your time in hospital with Verity because of the painful memories. You see in that back corner of your heart a dusty old chest to keep those memories locked away in, but My Darling, it is a TREASURE CHEST! Let Me open it up and show you the beautiful jewels and precious gems that are waiting inside! You do not need to fear these memories, as they are full of treasured moments when I met you right where you were, in the midst of the pain. In the depth of your despair, I spoke Hope. In the agony of uncertainty, I spoke the certainty of My Presence through it all. Your story is one of Hope and Joy in Me in the face of adversity. Do not hide this away any longer! 

Relax Into My Presence

My precious daughter, I see you grappling with this concept of leaning into Me. You understand it intellectually, but you are finding it hard to truly live it.

Remember when you were learning how to float in the swimming pool? Do you remember how terrified you felt? How you did not believe that the water could truly hold you? And so, you flailed around in the water, kicking and splashing; refusing to lean into the water's holding. You saw the water's turbulence as proof that it could not hold you, when in fact, it was your own struggle that was causing the turbulence. It was not until you learned to breathe through your fear and relax into the water that you discovered the water's power to buoy you up. You had to believe somebody else's report that this was an attribute of water, that it could hold you. You had to cling to this truth as you breathed through your fear.

So it is with Me, Beloved. I want you to learn to relax into My Presence, just as you learned how to relax into the knowledge that the water could hold you. Stop flailing around, My Dear One, stop kicking and splashing. Your struggle is creating the turbulence that you sense around you. I do have the power to hold you, Beloved! You need to cling to this Truth as you breathe through your fear. Relax into My Presence and find the place of calm I have for you.

Hope in the Living God

Dear one, you need to let go of the resentment you feel about being woken early day after day. Stop trying to fight for an extra hour or two of sleep and use the time to seek Me instead. Remember - your hope is in the Living God, who is your Saviour (1 Timothy 4:10). Your hope is in Me for eternity, but also for each day here on earth. In your exhaustion, your hope is in Me to carry you through this day. You do not journey alone. I am with you in the chaos and confusion of each day. I know your deep, aching weariness and I am your salvation. 

Lean back into My arms, Beloved. To truly Hope in Me is to surrender all your anxious thoughts. All of your plans. All of your energy. I can multiply your yielded energy tenfold. I can rearrange your plans so that you can focus only on what is needful. I can transform your anxious thoughts into peace-filled trust. Put your hope again in Me, the Living God, for this day.

Promises that Give Life

"Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life." Psalm 119:49-50

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me, your hope is a sure thing. Your hope is securely anchored to Me, the Rock of your salvation. Remember that your hope does not rest on the flimsy shifting sands of circumstances or desired outcomes. Your hope is securely based on Me - the Way, the Truth and the Life!

My Word is Truth. My Word is Life. My Word is not full of false hope and worthless optimism. My Promises actually give you Life, and comfort you in times of hardship. When everything else is uncertain; when everything else is unpredictable; when everything else is in a state of flux...I AM constant. My Word stands true and solid. Cling to Me, and you will not be swept away in the storm.

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!

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. 

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."

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. 

I Am There

"When I said, 'My foot is slipping!' your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me your consolation brought joy to my soul." Psalm 94:18-19

It is not My plan to keep you on the brink of anxiety or panic! Just waiting for the next bout of bad news! That is not abundant life! My desire is to see you living in My joy each and every day!

In My Presence is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11) Fullness! It fills you to the brim and then spills out to everyone you meet! You do not need to dwell in a place of sorrow, grieving that which seems lost! This is an attempt to protect your heart from future pain. Let it go, Beloved, dance with Me in a wild dance of joyful anticipation. Your daughter is fearfully and wonderfully made, and I delight in her beauty! Don't hold back in doing the same!

Do not fear the strong emotions she already evokes in you. Do not fear the journey I am taking you on. I give you beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, praise instead of despair. (Isaiah 61:3) This beautiful exchange is always available to you as you dwell in My Presence. In Me, you can smile through tears, laugh in the midst of sorrow and be joyful in affliction. There is no guilt in this. I am big enough to contain simultaneous and seemingly contradictory emotions. 

Do not get hung up on externals. Whether your early experiences with her take place primarily in your home or in a hospital ward...I am there! I am able to transform a sterile intensive care unit into a place of beauty by My Presence, which you carry with you! 

Whether you get to hold her close from day one or not - I am there. Though your experience will be different from the last two new babies, it will be no less precious! You will experience moments of intense beauty that are made even more precious by the uniqueness. Trust Me in this. Let go of your fear, and let yourself look forward with excitement. She is so worth it! My Truth is irrefutable, My Hope is boundless - not constrained by mere circumstances. Let Me set your heart free to soar on wings like an eagle. 

I Am the God Who Gives Life

I gave you that word yesterday to prepare you to face today. So you already know how to face this news you received today...by pressing in to My Presence and praising Me! Praise Me for all that I am going to do here. Fix your eyes on Me, the great Unseen; rather than on the doctor's predictions, and the images of the heart that is not functioning as it should - this is just what is seen, and it is temporary. I am ETERNAL! 

 I am the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were! Be like Abraham, who against all hope, in hope believed in the Promise I had given him. He did not waver through unbelief regarding My Promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to Me, being fully persuaded that I had the power to do what I had promised. (Romans 4:17-21)

 Keep on placing your Hope securely in the Truth of who I AM. I AM the God who performs miracles! (Psalm 77:14)

My Truth Gives You Hope

John 11

When sorrow unexpectedly overwhelms you, you can let yourself be sad. Let go of your need to understand the sorrow, and just sit with Me. I will always hold you while you cry. 

You do not need to feel guilty for feeling sad! I, too, was overwhelmed by sorrow during My time on Earth. I was deeply moved in spirit and troubled, and I wept in response to Lazarus' death. Keep in mind that this was even though I was aware of what was coming - I knew that My Father was about to demonstrate His Resurrection Power!

Let your sadness out, and let My Spirit comfort you. Let Me lift your head and remind you of My Loving-Kindness. Let Me hold your face in My hands, look straight into your eyes and speak Hope to your spirit! I AM the Resurrection and the Life! Nothing is too hard for Me! I am wholly good and wholly trustworthy! Your HOPE is based securely on this TRUTH.

Expect the Unexpected!

Psalm 77

When you feel desperate for My intervention in your life, but cannot see any indication of My hand at work, you tend to slip into despair. Like the Psalmist, you may even question My Love in those dark moments. (Psalm 77:1-9)

Follow the Psalmist's example - focus your mind on who I AM and on what I CAN DO! Meditate on My works and consider all My mighty deeds. (Ps 77:10-12) Let your heart marinate in My Word - in so many examples of My Power at work in the lives of My People. (Ps 77:15-20)

Like the Psalmist, you too will shout out: "Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God? YOU ARE THE GOD WHO PERFORMS MIRACLES; you display your power among the peoples." (Psalm 77:13-14)

Remember, Beloved - rarely do My miracles take the form or the timing that My People expect or hope for. I am NOT a cosmic genie or divine magician. I am SO MUCH GREATER, dear one! 

When you place your hope securely in the truth of WHO I AM, it is right to expect the unexpected. But don't expect the unexpected to show up in the way you expect it to! HA! 

My Creativity knows no bounds! Watch and see what I shall do!

Hope Casts Out Despair

"When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me, til I entered the sanctuary of God." Psalm 73:16-17

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." 1 Peter 4:12

Your eyes have slipped from My Face, Beloved. Despair is creeping in to your heart. Look up - remember where your help comes from. Although it feels like wave after wave of difficulty is washing over you, I hold you firm. I will not let you drown, my darling. I am allowing these waves to wash away each and every crutch, all the flotsam and jetsam that you cling to for a false sense of security. I AM your salvation. These other things you cling to cannot save you! Sleep, health, material possessions, technology...you rely far too heavily on these to comfort you. You place your trust in these things far more readily than you trust in Me. 

Be still before Me and know that I AM GOD! You are always with Me, and I hold you by your right hand. I guide you with My counsel, and afterward I will take you into glory...Your flesh and your heart may fail, but I AM the strength of your heart and your portion forever. (Psalm 73:23-26)

Despair cannot abide in the presence of this Truth. Dwell in My Truth, and perfect Hope will cast out despair. 

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)

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.

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)

See, I Am Doing A New Thing

Psalm 61

My child, my sweet child. Can you feel Me with you right now? Let those tears flow...let the pain out, and feel My arms of comfort holding you secure as you cry. I AM big enough to hold your pain. To hold your myriad of emotions that you feel right now. Hope, joy, love, disappointment, fear, sadness...

But don't forget to take joy in the fact that I have created life inside you. I love that precious life you saw kicking and stretching today; just as I love you. I am holding her, just as I am holding you. 

See, I AM doing a NEW THING in you right now. There is not a soul exactly like your daughter. She is a new creation of Mine, and I love her! I delight in her, just as she is! I dance over her! I see her as beautiful! Like a branch of honeysuckle blossoms let off a fragrant scent that is heady to the one who is close, so this child of yours gives Me such heady joy! I LOVE her. It is okay for you to let go of your fear, and rejoice over her with singing. 

Don't be afraid of her, of what pain she may bring to your life. Only be aware of how fear has the power to cripple you. Let her stir your heart. Let yourself love her completely. Don't hold back. Be brave. 

I have great things in store for our girl. The name you have had on your heart for months is not an accident. You are drawn to this name because it is prophetic of who she is and who she will be. Dare to believe this! 

Soak yourself in My Presence. Do not leave until you are full of My Truth. Learn to turn you heart towards Me - not in a desperate grasping, but in a confident gaze, knowing your every need is met in My Presence. Because your one truest need is Me.