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!

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!! 

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.

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.

Done With "Shoulds"!

My Darling, you are done with "shoulds" for good! Catch every "should" before it leaves your mouth and yield it to Me. Speak instead, "I will..." or "I will not...", as I lead you. You are no longer bound by "shoulds"! I have set you free! 

You have questions about the role of contending in the life of faith, if faith is actually about yielding to Me. Contending is an important part of this lifestyle of yielding, Beloved, just not in the way you are used to thinking abou them. 

The primary place the contending happens is in your thoughts and emotions. In order to yield completely and to stay completely yielded, you often have to wrestle a thought or emotion into submission to Me. There is much action in this "inaction" of yielding. Just as it takes enormous effort and muscle control to stay perfectly still in a given position, so it takes enormous self-control (by the spirit) and faith to stay yielded in a given situation. 

Your flesh is dead but zombie-like in its persistence to keep rising and trying to take back control of your body, mind and spirit. It is dead, but you must reckon it dead many times a day by your will and through faith. 

For many years, you have lived as a captive to your fleshly thoughts, emotions and desires, but no longer! I have set you free! No longer at the mercy of your frustrations, worries, fears, insecurities, prideful thoughts or superior attitudes. When you were trapped in self-loathing just a few months again, it was your flesh-control that you were loathing, but you never have to live under that again! 

As  you stay yielded to Me, I can use you as an instrument to change culture and society around you. You cannot do it yourself. Yield every passion to Me, tell Me your desires and ask if you can do something. I love to work through you! I will show you the next step to take! I can accomplish infinitely more through you when you are yielded than when you are acting in your own strength! 

All worthy causes already matter to My own heart! I suffer when I see My Beloved Ones suffer. I care deeply about the poor, they lonely, the neglected, the refugees, widows and orphans.

Trust Me to Keep You From Error

I am setting your heart ablaze to burn with My all-consuming fire of Love. What joy it is to burn with Love! Even the pain carries joy. 

Do not entertain any of the doubts the enemy would suggest to you. Trust Me completely to keep you from error as you test everything against My Word. Does not My Word in scripture confirm what you are learning as you listen to Me? Does it not make more sense to you now than ever before? Dare to yield all to Me and trust Me absolutely, no exceptions! 

You will see Holy Spirit fruit that will also confirm the Truth of this way of walking with Me. In fact, you are already seeing fruit!

Yielding in Joyful Confidence

In the past, you have often been confused about the issue of healing, but you have been coming at it from entirely the wrong angle. You have been trying to believe for healing without the revelation of what it truly means to be hidden with Christ in God.

Start with yielding in joyful confidence - yielding your will to My will. You will to feel better, but you are no longer a slave to your feelings. While I do not want you to be sick, I can use it. Trust Me completely and yield in joyful, confident trust. 

Stay yielded - acceptance with joy means no grumbling, murmuring, whinging, and not a hint of self-pity. Do not speak out any grumbling words, but also yield every grumbling thought immediately. This is the beginning of healing for you, Beloved! 

You have habitually whinged and moaned, rehearsed your symptom list over and over in your head, and spoken aloud about being sick or feeling miserable. Trust Me for all the details - I know what you have on your schedule - yield joyfully and completely, and trust that I will take care of every detail. 

In the past, your "sick days' have involved binge watching. But no longer! "Rest into wellness days" are days to soak in My Presence and enjoy Me. Take joy in Me, rest in the complete trust that I'm going to take care of all the details. 

Do not be afraid of troublesome thoughts that beset you - yield them to Me, renounce the enemy and praise Me as though I've already worked the healing. For I have, on the cross and breaking out of the tomb - I dealt with all sickness. Now rejoice that the work is done and rest into the outworking! 

When others in your household affect the atmosphere of your home by reintroducing fear, murmuring, blame or shame - allow Me to use you to take back your home for Love's purpose. Do not be afraid of their sin, just yield them to Me in joyful confidence, and sing out My Praise with joy. You can shift the atmosphere for Love just as easily!

Joy flows so naturally from the truly yielded heart. Celebrate this Truth - joy is not dependent on your circumstances or on you feeling good - joy is always available! 

Slave to Righteousness

I am calling you from glory to glory! I am calling you to do that which is wholly impossible for your flesh, but wholly possible for My Spirit! 

Being a "slave to righteousness" means being completely sold out to Me - not just in intention, but also in action. I do not give you commands that I do not also empower you to complete! The enemy would have you see this as a life of legalism, but in fact it is the most completely free life you can know this side of heaven!

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Do not let an unkind thought go without yielding it to me. No exceptions! Do not let an unkind word or harsh tone exit your lips. No exceptions! Not even to or about your husband or kids. This is impossible for your flesh, but possible for your spirit, as it is empowered by My resurrection life. 

Your words hold the power of life and death. Decide to only allow streams of life-giving words out of your mouth!

Consistent Victory

Beloved, watch your manner towards your children. Deliberately let My Love flow out from you in patient, kind, loving care, but with boundaries. Never treat them as an inconvenience - they will pick up on this vibe very strongly without you saying a word, if this is how you see them. 

Isn't it wonderful that I do not tell you how to live without also giving you access to life-giving power to live this way? What blessed joy!! Your flesh can never accomplish these things, but your spirit, empowered by My Spirit, CAN!

You can have consistent victory where the world tells you to settle for "good enough". When the world tells you that it's fine to indulge in a self-pity, even if just for a little while, I have shown you true victory is possible by bringing every impulse of the flesh to death on the cross - it is already dead, but you reckon it dead in your own life by faith. Blessed, miraculous Truth! 

You are learning what it means to abide in Me, instead of having to run back to Me again and again. Stay with Me, every moment.

Bigger on the Inside!

I AM bigger than your mind can contain, yet I dwell within you. Bigger on the inside! Come and search Me out. Seek after Me! It never gets old or boring. I AM the same yesterday, today and forever; yet I am unpredictable! What a joyful paradox!

You are saved by grace alone, but it is through faith - and that requires a constant yielding on your part. A constant choosing to rest from striving and let Me lead. 

In this Spirit-led life, all phrases such as, "I can't bear this right now" or "I just need a break" or "I'm too tired" declare your fleshly lack, and have no place in the Spirit-led life! 

Instead, I will help you train your mind to think thoughts such as, "I draw on the springs of Living Water that flow out of my inner place" and "Love rises up in my spirit and Love is enough to cover a multitude of sins!" You have access to a bounty of Goodness, energy, Love, Spiritual fruit by faith, believing the fact that they are growing inside you already! When you declare your faith in your flesh to be insufficient and lacking, you make it so. When you declare your faith in My Spirit to provide all you need, you make it so! What power your words have! 

My Words created Life, and your words can speak life or death - your choice! Yes, Beloved, I really have given you that much power! So you see, when you feel helpless and powerless, that is just another lie the enemy is using to keep you down!

"Fill your thoughts with my words until they penetrate deep into your spirit. Then as you unwrap my words, they will impart to you true life and radiant health into the very core of your being. So above all, guard the affections of your heart for they affect all that you are. Out of your innermost being flows the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:21-23 (TPT)

See, I am healing you from the inside, out! Believe it, Beloved!

When someone asks you how you are, you may always answer, "Great!" - even if you are not physically feeling great. How can this be? You do not need to recount your physical ailments in order to be truthful, for your health does not define you! Your words declare and your feelings follow. So speak the fact that you are doing great (for you are, in your spirit) and the feellings will follow!

Delicious Freedom

Beloved, what a happy Truth you are learning - that obedience to My Will is not the hard slog or miserable burden that the enemy would have you think it is. No, instead it is beautiful, blessed, lovely and desirable! What delicious freedom to relax completely into the Will of One who only wants blessing for you! One who can transform every pain and inconvenience into beauty and joy! What joy to give up every claim or attempt at control over your life to One who actually has power to make changes! 

Oh My Beautiful Daughter, I am watching your discoveries with My angels - shouts of joy and excitement resound in the heavenly realm when any child of Mine discovers "new" Truths and begins to live by them. 

Sweet, blessed surrender to Me as a lifestyle and habit is the key to truly victorious and fruitful living. Long have you known this in theory, and even experientially in part, but consistency and constancy have evaded you. No longer!

Dynamic Life and Power

Beloved, I am teaching you to do all things from this place of Love. This is impossible for the flesh, but possible for the spirit made alive in Christ! You have a choice about how you respond in every situation - from the flesh or from the spirit. The flesh has enjoyed rulership - or at least shared reign - for too long now, but dead flesh cannot lead you anywhere except the grave! 

Your spirit is coming alive more fully each day - it is already fully alive, but it is waking up to that life! Let your spirit take the lead!

Beloved, it is for FREEDOM that I have set you free! I am thrilled that you are finally realising what this means on a consistent level. I see your sorrow that it has taken your whole lifetime as a Christian, soaked in a Christian environment to realise this experientially! But, My Darling, I say to you as Nehemiah and Ezra said to the people as they wept to hear the Law read: "Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

My godly sorrow leads you to repentance, but you are never to set up camp there. You move straight out into the wide open fields of My Grace in rejoicing and celebration! 

"Beloved ones, God has called us to live a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit...Freedom means that we become so completely free of self-indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do. For love completes the laws of God. All of the Law can be summarised in one grand statement: 

"Demonstrate love to your neighbour, even as you care for and love yourself."

...As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self-life. For your self-life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit's intense cravings hinder your old self-life from dominating you! The Holy Spirit is the only One who defeats the cravings of your natural life...But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of Grace, you will no longer be living under the dominion of the law, but soaring above it!" (Galatians 5:13-18, TPT)

"But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its various expressions. This love is revealed through:
Joy that overflows,
Peace that subdues,
Patience that endures,
Kindness in action,
A life full of virtue,
Faith that prevails,
Gentleness of heart, and
Strength of spirit.
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless." (Galatians 5:22-23, TPT)

Healing in Progress

Moving by the impulses of My Spirit who dwells in you - this is the only way you can "pace yourself". By keeping pace with Me. When I prompt a stop and rest moment, listen and obey, even if you feel that you are "on a roll". Too often, you have ignored My prompts to rest and have pushed yourself too hard as a result. 

It is impossible to be lazy if you are following the impulses of My Spirit! Therefore, Rest is without guilt. Guild would rob you of the peace and joy of rest in My Presence, but it has no place here!

This is how you can heal - not by figuring it all out with the help of doctors and specialists (I use them on this journey, but the source of healing is not in them) - but here, from this place of Love-Rest. All healing flows from My River of Life! 

I am healing you from the inside out. I am starting in the innermost places - your thoughts and your sacred garden - transformation starts here and radiates outwards like ripples on a lake's surface. Your healing has begin and is in progress right now! Celebrate this Truth, Beloved! 

I am re-writing the narrative of your life, My Precious One! No long "I am a helpless sinner", but now, "I am victorious in Christ! I am an overcomer!" It is your purpose to live a victorious, thriving life no matter what circumstances you are faced with! I never intended you to live stuck in cycles of hopelessness or powerlessness, feeling like life is happening to you and you are unable to do anything about it. 

Your victory is not dependent on things going your way! This is freedom, Beloved! It is not dependent on adverse circumstances to rise above, either. You were intended to be more than a conqueror in all things! 

Reign of Fear is Over

Let's talk about what Love looks like. Let's talk about My Parenting in Love. I do not vindictively punish you, My Precious, but I do leave you to the natural consequences of your sin when you refuse to obey. I do not force you, I step back and let you resist and experience the pain of those consequences. The "hell of your own making". Learn from the way I parent you as you seek to parent your children from Love rather than Fear.

Beloved, I am casting out the fear of man and fear of punishment with My Perfect Love!! You are learning these lessons, and it is time to demonstrate these to your kids too. I am cutting off the spirit of fear over your household! Fear of man, fear of punishment, fear of not being able to control - gone, in My Name! 

I declare the reign of fear is over in this family and this home! A new day is dawning! The barren season is over and gone. 

Trust My guiding with your kids. As I live in you and through you, I will show you how to love them and how to shepherd their hearts as I shepherd yours. Beloved, drink deep of My Living Water, and remember the spring is within you. You need to remember to draw from it in every situation, especially when your kids are behaving in ways that bring out fear in you! You are a powerful person Beloved, because My power is alive in you!

"My prayer for you is that every moment you will experience the measureless power of God made available to you through faith. Then your lives will be an advertisement of this immense power as it works through you! This is the explosive power. 

Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting-place of his love will become the very source and root of your life, providing you with a secure foundation that grows and grows.

Then, as your spiritual strength increases, you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences - the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding - this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! 

Never doubt God's mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energises you." (Ephesians 3:16-20, TPT)

Bread of Life

Manna from heaven...these are My words for you - fresh every day! Each day, new truths for you to chew over, with perfect nutrition your spirit needs for this day. Have your ears open to hear what I have for you today...do not try to regurgitate yesterday's food. Feed on Me, the Bread of Life. 

"Jesus said to them, 'I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35, TPT)

"...But if anyone drinks the living water I give them, they will never thirst again and will be forever satisfied! For when you drink the water I give you it becomes a gushing fountain of the Holy Spirit, springing up and flooding you with endless life!" (John 4:14, TPT)

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Each time you feel frustrated, see it as a signal that you need to examine your attitude and lean into Me. If your kids' behaviour is frustrating you, let your spirit lead the response, not your flesh. If you catch yourself saying, "These kids are driving me crazy!" - Stop, speak out blessing over them immediately! Do not be afraid to correct yourself. There are bad habits of thoughts and speech that I am exposing as inconsistent with my Spirit-life in you. These habits have already been put to death with your flesh, with Me on the cross, so take up new habits by allowing your spirit to stay connected to My Spirit.

Use Difficulties Creatively

The secret to victorious living is to let Me turn every single negative, unwelcome experience you face into something lovely and beautiful by helping you respond to it with joyfully confident yielding to Me. I know you have already begun to grasp and live this magnificent and astounding Truth in some circumstances, but Precious One, it can go so much further! 

Every day, you are faced with countless opportunities to practise this! You do not need to wait for particularly adverse circumstances to test it out! You have endless opportunities with your children's behaviour alone! Every tantrum, every refusal to obey, every rude word spoken, every argument between themselves...you are giving up your right to respond with rolled eyes, an impatient "Come on!", a huff and puff, or any other expression of displeasure. 

Let Me turn your displeasure into sweet pleasure by your patient, joyfully confident submission to Me! 

Try it, Beloved! You will be amazed at the power of this tool to change the atmosphere of your home! Not only so, but you will also be setting an example to your children of how to respond to unpleasant circumstances without letting your feelings boss you around. Win-win!! 

"The heavenly attitude toward sorrow and grief and all experiences of suffering in this world is in total contrast to the natural attitude we know so well. Our Lord was "acquainted with grief" and suffering, and caused great good to come out of it. Not that we are to seek these things, but we are never to fear them. We should rather use them. God, who so loves us that he allows us, like his own dear Son, to learn obedience by the things we suffer (Hebrews 5:8), wants us to use them creatively. There would be no suffering and no sorrow permitted to God's children unless all such experiences were, in actual fact, a means to heavenly and eternal blessing which could not otherwise be ours...

There can be poison in the cup of sorrow, however - but only if we put it there ourselves by reacting to these mournful circumstances with self-pity, resentment, and angry struggles to evade the cup instead of drinking it! 

...If we react to difficult situations with trust in God, difficult, unlovely, overwhelming, and disastrous things will bring praise and glory to God forever. Out of all our testing circumstances, by reacting to them in the heavenly way, we produce heavenly treasures. We have a lovely example of this in the material world, for really precious jewels, such as the diamond and ruby, are formed under immense and terrible pressure or by fiercest heat!

...Christ taught us the real secret for transforming earthly and temporary experiences into eternal treasure. It is this principle of sorrow rightly received, with joyful trust and glad submission, grief as God desires it to be used."  (Hannah Hurnard, in "Walking Among The Unseen")