Category: Courage

Understanding God’s Love and Protection

Come to realize that when you turn your eyes toward me, you are not turning them to a distant point, but inward to your mind, your spirit, your heart, and your body.

Meditation Thought: “For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.” (Psalm 141:8)

When your eyes are on me, you have total refuge and total defense. This is because in me you find knowledge, wisdom, guidance and strength.

Come to realize that when you turn your eyes toward me, you are not turning them to a distant point, but inward to your mind, your spirit, your heart, and your body. It is in these places that I’d dwell, through your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior.

The more you comprehend that we are so close together, as arm in arm the more effectively you can perceive my will

You have been conceiving of me as separate from you. Conceive of me as close as anyone can be to you, in body, in mind, in sympathetic understanding of common emotions, in a rapport of having similar character.

In this way, you’ll be able to feel my presence in you, and will be able to live the life of the new creature in Christ.

You are my beloved child, for whom I not only would sacrifice my own life, but I did! This is how much I love you! This is the extent to which I go to ensure you’re having a place of refuge and a sure defense. Now, do you understand the scripture for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind?

This spirit, which I have given you in response to your faith in Jesus as savior is the Holy Spirit: the spirit of power and love and a sound mind.

The purpose of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit is to blend you and me together into such close association that we become as one in thought, in word, and in deed.

No matter the circumstances, no matter the intent of evil, or those who are ignorant, always those who have their eyes on me, and my spirit within, living resurrection out of death, good out of harm, and rescue out of peril, for I am their defense. I am power, I am love, I am sound mind, and no foe can overthrow these.

Understanding God’s Affection

It is not the earthly ‘king’ who rules my destiny, but my beloved heavenly “Daddy”.

Meditation Thought: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?…  I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:14, 16)

A response to God’s call to be brave:

“Oh, Lord; Father, “Daddy”. I know now why Jesus said “Abba” – “Daddy”. It is a term that defines our relationship more accurately than the term “Father”. “Daddy” connotes deep affection, sweet, happy communion, a relationship in which confidences are shared and enjoyed.

This is what I see more clearly now that You desire – and it is what I have been unknowingly longing for, even searching for – almost panicking for. Now I understand that, no matter what happens, you will assure that I will be all right, wherever I am, whatever form I am in. To the extent that I follow Your suggestions, to that extent will the heavens open up their glories, and miracles of reconciling love appear.

You aren’t so concerned that I choose to be brave so that your purposes may be fulfilled (for you can always do this through others), but You delight in my joy at success in being brave, at my realization of Your power and of our sweet communion.

You want me to say: “if I perish, I perish”, not out of disgusted resignation, or fear of guilty conscience if I refuse to approach the king, but in the knowledge of, and awareness of, the high sense of purpose – a grandeur of being an important part of destiny – of being a true, competent, loyal representation of Your Kingdom, of Your people as I approach the king of this world, whoever that “king” is in the circumstances (the kingdom) of the moment.

May I be content with the verdict of the ‘king’, for it is not the king who rules my destiny, but my beloved “Daddy”.

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.

Exchange Your Crown: Finding True Freedom in Faith

You cannot wear two crowns at the same time. Exchange the old for the new. Take care of what thoughts, words and deeds proceed from you, for they shall return, essentially of the same character.

Meditation Thought: “They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.'” (Revelation 4:10-11)

“Cast your crown before Me. I have given you the crown of your freedom of will. You are not compelled to hold it out as an offering to Me, who first gave it to you. But if you find the courage and the desire to hand it back to Me, you will receive far better than the crown of free will. You will have the crown of My will shining upon you. It brings beauty and grace, love and truth, all that you long for. But you cannot wear two crowns at the same time.

Exchange the old for the new.
Exchange the crown of the world for the crown of the kingdom.
Exchange the focus of your life from yourself to Me.
We are bound together by our relationship.
We are bound together in our purpose.

Take care of what thoughts, words and deeds proceed from you, for they shall return – added to, altered, enlarged – but essentially of the same character.

A Journey of Faith

Only one think is required of you:
The placing of your hand in Mine,
Signifying your willingness to go.

I hear your soft, low moan, my Child,
As the struggle begins anew.
Fear not, fear not!
Imagine not nightmarish things,
For not such is the plan.
Only for a little while,
A focusing upon
A new exercise in faith:
A further revelation of what lies beyond.
It is good.
The journey you started toward the Kingdom
Shall be completed.
But it must be taken step by step.
I shall be your guide, your aid.
Trust Me. Hold to Me.
Move with Me.
As earthly terrain is varied,
And the traveler adapts,
So is the way to the kingdom.
I shall see to your proper equipment.
I shall see to your building of strength.
I shall see to the best itinerary.
Only one think is required of you:
The placing of your hand in Mine,
Signifying your willingness to go.

Running Together, Achieving Glory

If there were no challenge to overcome, where would be the glory of the victory?

Meditation Thought: “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” (Jude 1:20-21)

In these ways, you will be able to meet the challenge of life – in body and in spirit. Do not despair over the horrors of the times. Through the power and wisdom and knowledge and strength of God flowing in you, subdue that which would destroy you – even make the enemy your friend – one who works for your good, as you have worked for their good.

Life is complicated, and must be met at many levels. But you are capable of meeting the challenge: you have been created to do so. You need only to become convinced of it, and you will act accordingly.

You are weak when you rely only on your own resources. But, as you realize you are spirit and mind – and made in the Father’s image and have have His love, His character, His teaching, and His power all working for your successful meeting of the challenges – then, then you are not only a child of God in HIs eyes, but a child of God in your eyes, and a child of God in all eyes.

If there were no challenge to overcome, where would be the glory of the victory? You would shun the race if you could – but you cannot. Given this fact, the better choice by far is to study, prepare, practice that you may do well. Do well, not with the purpose of outperforming your ‘competitors’ – but that you may enable them to perform well also. You are not running against each other, but running together to do the best possible time on the course.

The manner in which you train and run will influence all who run with you. You can run well. You can inspire well. Will you train with discipline? Will you run with vigor? Follow the One who has demonstrated the way.

Research Optimization

Meditation Thought: “God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)

How can we change our life-style? What about our style-of-life? Money must be spent to give us the ability to change our life-style. Which begs the question, what does it take to change our style of life? Only the Holy Spirit activated can change our style of life.

The knowledge to activate the Spirit is easy to find. The difficulty lies in denying our human willfulness. We often dictate what we will think, say, and do. Instead, we should yield to God’s will. It is especially important to accept the manner of His teaching.

We would prefer to learn with little effort having our lessons all laid out before us, without any research and commitment on our part. But this is not the way we learn in depth. To learn in depth takes the lesson learned beyond the ‘head knowledge’ and extends it to ‘heart knowledge’. The lessons become part of our actions as well as our mind.

It is the Spirit that keeps us researching, who leads us to new discoveries and resources. We must ask for His help – and accept it and heed His instructions. Only with His help will we learn the lesson and, having learned it, make it a true change to our style of life.

Trusting the Director of Your Life’s Journey

The wisdom of the ages is set before you. Will you partake?

Meditation Thought: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)

The wisdom of the ages is set before you. Will you partake? It is the background for the action taking place in your life – its presence affects your performance. Your performance affects your audience.

Come, the time is ripe to be directed into a great performance of the Father’s will. You have been rehearsing and practicing. Now come the years in your life to perform what you have been learning.

The Director is in charge; if you will listen to Him, the performance will be effective for you and your audience. You don’t know the effects of your performance. Therefore, you must believe with all your heart that the instructions of your Director are bringing your performance to exquisite perfection that it may bring enlightenment and appreciation into all who see it, that they might rise up to give glory to the Author, and recognition to the Director.

Will you obey the Director, trusting His judgment is better than yours?

Principles of Spirit and Matter

As we move together, harmoniously and joyfully, we expand our effectiveness step by step through your life on earth. Thus is the Father’s will done on earth as it in in heaven.

Meditation Thought: “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.” (Romans 14:13)

“Take My yoke, for it is designed to carry much more as we go in double-yoke than you can carry alone. Concentrate on perfecting our movements in coordination, not looking back as to the character of the load, or as to its size. It matters not: as we pull together, coming to know each other and how to work together, we will pull larger and larger loads, loads which would be difficult were it not for My knowledge of how to manage them.

Rely on my experience in hauling every type of load, and every quantity of load – simply imitate My movements by closely observing all I do. The key is in leverage: the use of the abilities the Father created in the proper manner and in the proper sequence, according to the principles of Spirit and matter which He reveals through Me to you. By My obedience unto suffering and unto death, I have perfected in human form the movements in harmony with these principles. As by faith you yoke yourself to Me, you feel My movements tugging on you. Adjust yourself to feel comfortable and coordinated with My movements.

As we move together, harmoniously and joyfully, we expand our effectiveness step by step through your life on earth. Thus is the Father’s will done on earth as it in in heaven.”

Dare to Trust

Will you hand Me each one that I may warm it in My Spirit and expand it into fulness and bless your neighbors and yourself?

Meditation Thought: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31 and quoted by Paul in Romans 13:9)

“You shall minister to your neighbor as yourself. In every thought, every word, every deed, it matters not who is the recipient – the action is to be as unto Me.

When you care for your body, you care for Me,
When you enrich your mind, you enrich My glory,
When you say words of encouragement to your enemy, you praise My name,
When you sacrifice your desires to minister to another, you sing the song of angels exulting in the fellowship of My Presence.

As you pour yourself out in all the means available to you, when you pour yourself through My Spirit rather than pouring directly into the world, My Spirit enriches your expressions and makes them blessings multiplied on earth and in heaven.

Just as a kernel of corn puffs up in the heat and the volume expands, so too, when you pour yourself out through My Spirit, what is returned to you is gently returned in a new, more desirable form. Do you dare trust Me with every kernel in your life? Will you hand Me each one that I may warm it in My Spirit and expand it into fulness and bless your neighbors and yourself?”