This Is How I See You!

"Listen, my dearest darling, you are so beautiful -- you are beauty itself to me!

Your eyes glisten with love, like gentle doves behind your veil. 

What devotion I see each time I gaze upon you. 

You are like a sacrifice ready to be offered. 

When I look at you I see that you have taken my fruit and tasted my Word. 

Your life has become clean and pure, like a lamb washed and newly shorn. 

You now show grace and balance with truth on display. 

Your lips are as lovely as Rahab's scarlet ribbon, speaking mercy, speaking grace.

The words of your mouth are as refreshing as an oasis. 

What pleasure you bring to me!

I see your blushing cheeks opened like the halves of a pomegranate,

Showing through your veil of tender meekness.

When I look at you I see your inner strength, so stately and strong. 

You are as secure as David's fortress.

Your virtues and grace cause a thousand famous soldiers to surrender to your beauty.

Your pure faith and love rest over your heart as you nurture those who are yet infants."

 (Song of Songs 4:1-5 TPT)

Yes, Beloved, this is how I see you! You do not need to blush in shame, as though you are hoarding some secret about what you are really like. You could never even unintentionally trick or deceive Me, Sweetheart! I know all you are, every inch of your very soul. I know the dark places, the ugly places, the sin places. But still you do not fully grasp...

It is My joy to see you through the lens of Christ crucified. I see you as REDEEMED, and you are all the more beautiful for the depth of pain it cost Me to render you thus!! This is amazing Grace, that I choose to look upon the ones I love and have given everything to win back. Yes! You are beautiful beyond compare to Me. 

So do not shrink away from Me, My Darling! Stand up tall in this Grace I shower on you and do Me the honour of returning My gaze of Love with boldness, confidence and joy! After all these years, you are finally learning who you truly are. What a day for rejoicing! 

Glory to Glory

Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling. Come along with me!

I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended, and the season of hiding is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth and left it bright with blossoming flowers.

The season for pruning the vines has arrived.

I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth.

Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans are bursting foth.

The budding vines of new life are now blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of flowers whispers, "There is change in the air."

Arise, my love, my beautiful companion, and run with me to the higher place.

For now is the time to arise and come away with me.

For you are my dove, hidden in the split-open rock. 

It was I who took you and hid you up high in the secret stairway of the sky.

Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice.

How beautiful your eyes of worship and lovely your voice in prayer.

You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship.

For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I've planted within you.

Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together.   

(Song of Songs 2:10-15, TPT)

O Beloved One, I see you hesitate. You are not sure whether I really intend these words for you, now. Are you thinking of my words about the new day dawning two years ago, when soon thereafter you entered the toughest season of your life? But Beloved, you've known My Love like never before through this time! Remember that the dawn I spoke of was a new way of seeing, not a promise of smooth sailing. 

My Darling, do you not yet comprehend that your circumstances are mere tools in My hands, that I can use to draw you nearer? They are inconsequential in and of themselves! They are not your Dictator or Master. They do not change who you are. They cannot rob you of yourself. When you are surrendered to Me, they are just tools in the Potter's hands. Please do not rail against your circumstances, or make yourself a victim to them. They do not have power unless you give it to them. 

Chronic illness does not define you. I know that you feel as though it has changed you and you have lost yourself. But, Dear One, I AM the One who gives you your identity! In My hands, your chronic illness becomes a tool by which I can strip away self-reliance, pride, legalism and control. But remember, I am the Resurrection and the Life! I can bring to Life the elements of your personality that have been hitherto dormant, kept down by your control and pride. Embrace this process, Beloved Surrendered One! 

Already on this journey, you have discovered strength that you did not know you had. You have given up foods that you never thought you could. You have, by your desperation, found new ways to press into Me, and you have heard from Me more than ever before. So when I say that the season is changing, I mean it. I am not saying that your troubles will be gone. I am not saying that the way forward will be smooth. But I am saying that I am taking you from Glory to Glory in Me! I am taking you to new places. I am showing you this natural world through eyes of Love like never before. I am changing you, not your circumstances! 

Now, when I suggest that you give up something else, it is not to take you further into legalism. It is an invitation to sweet sacrifice for the sake of Love, to help you train your appetites. I see your willing heart. I hear your cries of "Yes, My Lord!" Your surrendered heart gives Me such joy. You have My heart, Beloved. I am yours!

Splashed with Living Water

Just soak in the Truth of how I see you, Beloved. I know it blows your mind, and your heart finds it hard to truly believe. But let Me speak it over you again and again. Rest under My banner of Love, drink My words in as sweet nectar. Receive this beautiful, inexplicable mystery with an open heart. 

I long to be close to you. I long to see your eyes of love turned to Me. I long to dance with you, especially in the difficult moments - it thrills Me when you turn your eyes to Me or lean into My arms in those moments! 

You give Me such an abundance of joy when you trustingly follow My lead in this dance. It delights My heart to dance with you. 

It all flows from here, Beloved. From the secret, sacred garden Love bursts forth. The whole point is to share it with others. A rich, joyful, beautiful inner life MUST flow out. The River runs, it does not stagnate. 

You will minister to others out of this richness. It will flow out of you. The more you get away with Me and soak with Me, the more it will naturally touch everything you do. You won't be able to keep silent. It will burn within you and spill out of your lips!

You need not forsake this place of safety to go out and minister. For as I am with you always, you carry the place of safety with you. Like Moses, your heart cries out, "I will not go anywhere that you are not leading me!" Let us go together! Let us dance, Beloved; let us dance colour into lives all around! 

My River of Living Water flows from your garden. As you interact with others, they are splashed with Living Water!

You Captivate Me!

Beloved, you are Mine and I am yours! You have captivated My heart with your worship, your loving looks steal My Heart. Let this soak in...this is truly how I see you! Not by anything that you do or don't do, but because you are Mine. 

You truly do bring Me bliss! I delight in you! I adore you! I love you in a crazy, abandoned way. You captivate Me and I am lost in your gaze. My equal, My bride, I love you!

"Arise, my darling!

Come quickly, my Beloved. 

Come and be the graceful gazelle with me. 

Come and be like a dancing deer with me.

We will dance in the high places of the sky,

Yes, on the mountains of fragrant spice. 

Forever we shall be 

United as one!" 

(Song of Songs 8:14)

This is what it means to seek first the kingdom. There are so many problems you are seeking answers to, but if you just drop them and focus fully on Me in this moment...nothing else matters. You know that I will bring answers and solutions to you when you need them. 

You  know that this is paramount. You and I, alone. Joy in each others' presence. Grab these moments whenever you can! 

Catch Those Foxes!

You can't force this dance, Beloved. You can't dance on your own. Dancing through your difficulties requires a coming-away with Me. We must be connected, touching, to dance together. 

I know that you treasure this time, but so easily it gets crowded out. Catch those foxes! Let us catch those pesky foxes that would destroy the work I am doing in you. You need to help Me with this, Beloved!

Self-loathing is a weed in your heart-garden. I am rooting it out and replacing it with beautiful flowers of "confidence in My Love" and "inner beauty". I am watering these with My Love. I am changing the way you see yourself. I adore you! It thrills Me to look upon you! 

Your worship captivates My Heart and I am completely undone when I hear your whispers of sweet, trusting Love! 

There is no aspect of your health that I cannot transform as we spend time together. I could do it right now, but I also want you not to miss the lessons I can teach you on the journey. I can increase your physical fitness as you dance before Me. I can heal your emotional pain as you open your heart up to Me more fully. I can change your ingrained wrong thinking and transform your mind as you spend time with Me in My Word. I can increase your capacity to love as you learn to accept more of My Love. I can increase your capacity for laughter as you spend time in My Presence. I love to show you funny things. 

Please, Beloved, I beg you to keep making our precious time a top priority! We need it!

Fascinating

My Beloved, I find you fascinating! Yes, you are amazed that you have the power to evoke such emotions and desires in Me. But it is true. I am your Creator, but I also set you free to think for yourself. I find you beautiful, brave, fascinating, thrilling and delightful!

I love to spend time with you, Beloved. I love that you look forward to our time together with longing also.

Removing Your Limits

You have been operating on limited lung capacity. Your lungs have been all clogged up with self-hatred and self-blame. I am cleaning this out, and you will be able to take a deep breath again!

You have been so limited by this weight. I am removing your limits, one by one. I am removing scales from your eyes, also. Your choices often make your mind, heart and spirit more sluggish. Mindless entertainment as a way of distraction is a tool of the enemy to render you a dull instrument, and to block your ears to Me. There is so much I want to say to you through all the dull moments, through the boring monotony of housework, and through your stitching. 

Let Me lead you in this dance. I want to show you so many new things. Dance with your eyes open. 

I Love You and I Like You

It is no coincidence that you have always been drawn to dancing. I am giving you dancing as a weapon of warfare, and a tool of breakthrough and JOY! 

Beloved, let Me teach you the steps. You carry My goodness, you are good in Me. Reject all self-loathing as sin. I want you to learn LOVE for yourself. Remember at the beginning of this year, I told you this is a year for learning to love well. This is an important part of that journey...learning to love yourself. Not just tolerate yourself. Not despising yourself and blaming yourself for the state of your health. 

I want you to learn to see yourself as I see you - beautiful and good! Emanating Light! I don't just love you because I have to - I delight in you! I really like you! You can like yourself too. 

You are creative! You have skill with needle and thread. I have filled you with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge and with all craftsmanship to devise artistic designs (Exodus 35:31-32). You are compassionate, caring, a great encourager. You have a good eye for the hurting and skill in drawing people out. You are a good friend. You have style, originality, a spark of uniqueness. I love your flair. You are pleasing to Me. I love you, and I like you!

Dignity and Strength

Beloved. Get up off of the ground - do not wallow in your shame! Stand, receive My forgiveness and forgive yourself as freely.

You cannot hate yourself without hating Me, for My Name dwells in You! Step forward into the destiny that I have for you. You are a daughter of the King of Kings! You are not a beggar child, and should not conduct yourself as such.

Remember to walk in Dignity and Strength - I have given you these as robes to wear. Do not exchange your royal robes for torn rags.

As you weary, draw aside to Me. Do not just throw yourself down in the middle of the road to be trampled. Come aside with Me and renew your strength in My Presence.

I love you, My Beloved. Rest in My Love!

Your True Identity

Psalm 8

Remember that I AM the One who created the universe - I spoke life into being, formed man and woman with My own hands, made each star and moon, planet and sun and placed them exactly where I wanted them!

Remember that I AM your personal and very involved Father also. I care about every detail of your life, and I want you to share your every moment with Me. 

I AM not just one or the other - I AM both Creator and Father. Approach Me with the confidence of a child who fully trusts in the love of her parent; but also in the awareness of My awe and power. 

My dear child, you will not make Me angry by asking for good gifts! But do not forget to worship Me for WHO I AM, not just for what I can give you. The more you worship and love on Me for who I AM, the more confident you will become in accessing the power I have already given you permission to draw on. You have the keys of the Kingdom. But they were never intended to be used apart from My Presence. 

The more you soak in My Presence and shower your love and affection on Me for My own sake, the more you will realise who you are in My Kingdom. You know in your head that you are a daughter of the King of kings, one of the royal priesthood, a friend of God, equipped with the same death-defying power through which I rose from the death...but you do not often act like you know this!

As you soak in My Presence, you begin to absorb the heart revelation of your identity in Me. You cannot force this. You do not seek Me for this purpose. But as you seek Me for Me alone, fixing your eyes on My Face, you can begin to see yourself as you truly are. No amount of self-reflection or self-awareness can reveal this true identity to you - you can only discover it as a delightful side effect of living in communion with Me.