Category: Abundant Living

GPS to God’s Kingdom

There is no coercion, for love must be given freely to qualify as love.

Meditation Thought: “nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:21)

The kingdom of God exists wherever it is recognized as existing. When we, who have the capacity to do so, respond to God’s Presence within us, we are transformed by the knowledge of the magnificence of the Whole of which we are a part.

When we recognize that we are a part of a Whole and that the Whole is good – good for us and for others – and that goodness is that Whole’s innate Character and Nature, we perceive ourselves in an entirely new way. We perceive that the kingdom which Jesus referred to is actually within us! – to be discovered there and to be explored there.

We are so accustomed to having outside forces be the influence of our perception and decisions that it is difficult for us to realize that the Force within our own being is available and more powerful than any other.

We look inward in the wrong place: we look to the way we feel, and to the selfish desires of our own heart. We need to look inward to the right place: to the Father, the One who can guide us surely through the maze of life, that the Whole is healthy, as the parts are healthy.

We can find the Father and His kingdom within. Jesus is the key. God constantly urges us, and gives clues to us as to His whereabouts – but He desires for us to seek Him that both He and we are aware that the choice is ours. There is no coercion, for love must be given freely to qualify as love.

Lost & Found: Joy, Peace, Fulfillment

…we gain joy, peace and fulfillment.

Meditation Thought: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matthew 16:25)

In any system, when the lower is subject willingly and enthusiastically, cooperatively, and harmoniously to the higher, the whole functions more perfectly. So it is when we yield our lives to Christ – in one sense we lose them because we no longer have control – even partial control, which was really all we had to begin with.

But when we lose that control, we gain everything else that is good for us, everything that will bring joy and peace and fulfillment. These are the very things for which we searched by our own control. We could not find them, for that was not the nature for which we were created.

Only when we realize that we are a part of the whole can we make decisions which are in harmony with the whole, and thus accomplish our goals of finding peace, joy and fulfillment. If we fight the whole, we cannot win! We are weaker, less informed, and incomplete.

Once we recognize that Jesus is our head, – and what a head that is! – we are content, grateful, even, to delegate the functions of the head to Him, and to function as the body ourselves. We become a great body when we have a great Head to instruct us properly!

This understanding can only be achieved by faith – believing in the possibility of the truth that we are not merely what we observe, think and feel, but that we are part of a fantastic whole – and can become far more important, effective, and content as a part of such a glorious whole that we can be alone.

Transforming Chaos into Harmony

Harmony out of chaos, health out of sickness, hope out of despair, joy out of grief, and love out of hate.

Meditation Thought: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10)

To realize that there is power beyond myself is to have confidence. And to have confidence gives courage. To have courage is to release action. Action causes change. When the power, the confidence, the courage and the action are all working out God’s will, then the change is for the better. The change is “all things working together for good”. (Romans 8:28)

The change is bringing harmony out of chaos, health out of sickness, hope out of despair, joy out of grief, and love out of hate. Grace abounds. Beauty evolves. All of life glows with the newness of the dawn, light penetrating into darkness and revealing Truth: Truth that removes fears which were manifested in the darkness. I can think and speak and move in the confidence of knowing “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”. (Psalm 23:6)

The Power of Humility

The whole is not whole if there is a missing part.

Meditation Thought: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

The way to be happy and content in being ‘humble and gentle’ is to realize that one is a part of a marvelous whole. The contrasts are then brought together and integrated in such a way as to bring peace: on one hand, the part is nothing compared to the whole. On the other hand, the whole is not whole if there is a missing part. To know this is to be joyful that one can be a part of an exciting whole, yet humble in realizing that one is only a part.

Though some may not realize the truth of being only a member of a whole (as in the body of Christ), life has a way of challenging that thinking. If circumstances are analyzed instead of merely tolerated, or fought against, then it is possible to perceive in greater clarity and depth in the nature of oneself and the nature of the whole.

With this perception, more appropriate thinking takes place and actions are taken which produce better results. One is able to “be patient, bearing one another in love and eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” And is so being, these qualities are drawn into one’s life from others, thus each part becomes a better part, causing betterment of the whole – more health for all – not a healing of one part at the expense of another part.

Vanquish Fear and Shame

God is pure love, and I am His. Hallelujah! I cannot have any basis for fear; I am the beloved of Pure Love!

Meditation Thought: (Suggestion: where you read the word ‘you‘ insert your name instead; the prayer is for you!) “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)

I am strengthened by God’s might in my inner spirit. Christ dwells in my heart through faith. I am rooted and grounded in love and have power to comprehend everything God desires me to understand. God is able to do far more abundantly than all that I ask or think! Therefore, I shall not be afraid; I shall not be ashamed of myself.

I will trust this Force of Love within me – through my faith and works of faith I can trust my Lord to see me through all the happenings on the way, for we walk together – no, we “shall mount up with wings like eagles, we shall run and not be weary, we shall walk and not faint”.

We walk by faith – in Truth, not by sight of circumstances. God is pure love, and I am His. Hallelujah! I cannot have any basis for fear; I am the beloved of Pure Love!

Let Your Light Shine: Finding Faith in Darkness

Meditation Thought: “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)

“What has happened has served to advance the gospel” – if ever God worked in a seemingly undesirable situation to bring much good, it was Paul’s imprisonment – a pattern first revealed by Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection: the apparent victory of those who would destroy the Truth of God revealed – and then the blossoming of God’s revelation from the seed of distress.

It almost seems that the very darkness and distress were the nurturing places for the strength and light of God to burst forth in newness of health and visibility and the generation of HIs power as never before. Surely the Holy Spirit working in Jesus and in Paul was the start of the bursting forth of new growth – but the faith of Jesus and Paul – and the faithfulness of their faith nurtured the growth and expanded it once it was started.

So, we too, can allow the Spirit to plant the Truth – to plant God’s love and God’s character in our hearts and so, we too, in faith, can nurture it and cause it to grow ’til it bursts forth wherever we are in what is a prison for us.

Let Your light glow, O Lord,
Within my mind and soul,
So brightly, penetrating, invigorating
That my “prison”
Is transformed
To cozy home
For You and me –
A place where hope, and love and joy
Are evident –
And thus shock
Those who observe
The transformed place
Into awareness
Of Your power, your love, your call and your presence.

Transform Trial into Triumph

You shall be guided, step by step, prayer by prayer, revelation by revelation, to success.

Meditation Thought: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Success! Success is exhilarating, it gives energy and joy and willingness to put forth effort to try new ventures. But ‘success’ can never be achieved unless there is some trial to overcome – something that it takes effort to change.

Do not be discouraged as trials are met – but call upon your knowledge of Truth – that the Word is sure, that Jesus has released the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome every trial in your life.

You shall be guided, step by step, prayer by prayer, revelation by revelation, to success – not by your own power and might, but by the Spirit’s power and might working within your spirit, mind, emotions and body.

The Spirit cannot work, however, without your consent and cooperation to bring success.

Boundless Energy!

I give you more refreshing energy than anything provided by the world. There are depths of Truth, Joy and Fulfillment which you can never exhaust in your lifetime.

Meditation Thought: “So the word of the Lord grew and prevailed mightily.” (Acts 19:20)

“The Word grew and prevailed mightily through Paul’s example, through his teaching, and through his ministry – through the power and control of the Holy Spirit. This pattern is precisely the same pattern Jesus has given to you through the Word.

Use the pattern through your faith in Jesus as Lord, as Savior as Spirit living in your spirit, your mind and your body. You have been successful in accomplishing tasks which were unappealing by knowing you were doing them for Jesus dwelling within you in addition to them being for your own benefit. Expand this concept.

Try to respond more quickly as I seek to teach you. You need not feel pressured: just be more content to seek My counsel and to follow it, knowing that I give you more refreshing energy than anything provided by the world.

Do not seek what others seek – seek the kingdom within you. There are depths of Truth, Joy and Fulfillment which you can never exhaust in your lifetime. Dig deeply, dig enthusiastically – for the treasure is within you. You know you uncover treasure every time you spend your energy to look for it. Do not be distracted.

Develop a mind-set and a heart-set that enables you to be digging for treasure every moment, even when you are at the same time doing other tasks. Let these thoughts inspire you to use your moments and your energy to follow the pattern of the Way, the Truth, the Life.

Do not fear: I have called you in love, and sustain you in love, and am your partner in love. I need your thoughts directed to My Word, your emotions embracing My will, and your actions doing My works. But you need these very things as much as I!

Your Soul Finds its Worth

To lift up your soul to Me is not to deprive yourself – but to cause yourself to thrive.

Meditation Thought: “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8)

“Surely you shall know of My love, and I will teach you the way to go. I have sought your soul – ever since I created you, hoping that you would choose to respond to My love – respond so fully that you would “lift up your soul” to Me. How I long to enhance your soul – to make your soul, and thus your total being, beautiful and fruitful. To lift up your soul to Me is not to deprive yourself – but to cause yourself to thrive, to come into a maturity of being that makes visible the bountiful harvest of life. For I cherish your soul; I give your soul all it needs to be its very best. How you can rejoice that you place your soul in My care!

It is this very act which Jesus sought by His sacrifice to bring about. He longed for your soul to be lifted up to Me. Your doing so brings Him great joy. Your doing so lifts Him up also, as He dwells in you. By your act, you express your appreciation to Him and your love for Him. How could you better please Me?

In pleasing Jesus, in pleasing Me, you also please yourself. There is no conflict of interest when a soul is lifted up to Me. Yes, bring your soul to Me that I may care for it. Start each day with lifting your soul up to Me as you lift your body from the bed. You shall not be disappointed with the results – nor shall I, nor anyone whose life you touch.”

Step-by-Step: Seeking Lord’s Guidance in Decision Making

Do not make complications where none are intended.

Meditation Thought: “Moses answered them, ‘Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.'” (Numbers 9:8)

Look before you leap. Look to the Lord – where? You have His Word, you have His life – both as a record and His strength within you. Do not make complications where none are intended. Step by step, do what seems right After
1. Prayer
2. Listening
3. Analyzing for
a) priorities
b) the details of the situation
c) likely consequences – both positive and negative.

And, when the deed is done, pray the Lord’s will be done – and trust that it will, and do not speculate any further.