Category: Encourage

How to Change the Universe

Every thought, every action, every prayer changes the world, changes the Kingdom. You, you change the universe!

Meditation Thought: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

You have been admonished to obey those in authority: yet there is a hierarchy of authority, and you must obey the highest in command if there is a conflict of instructions. God is the highest authority. He judges justly. Obey Him, not only obey, but seek to be recognized as His child by the diligent pursuit of imitating Him in the flesh of the man called Jesus.

  • If you concentrate your spirit, mind, body, energies on all which is consistent with God’s nature as revealed to you in various forms, you will be doing His works while at the same time releasing His power in you to transform you, through your belief in Him, to work miracles in your life. To transform you:
  • from ignorant to wise,
  • from fearful to courageous,
  • from weak to strong,
  • from sad to joyful,
  • from ineffective to effective.

And this transformation takes place quietly,

  • little by little
  • thought by thought,
  • action by action,
  • prayer by prayer.

But every thought, every action, every prayer changes the world, changes the Kingdom. You, you change the universe! Be excited about this, be pleased about this. This is the manner in which God created: it is natural, it is desirable. The changes are to be made – but the attitude you adopt in making them is the revelation of who has your allegiance. Are you humble, willing to serve, glad to forgive and love and sacrifice? Then the world, which is proud, arrogant, unforgiving, hateful and demanding will not count you one of its own. But God rejoices in you, and by your acting out of His nature in your life, bit by bit, you soften the hardness of the world – reshape a part of it – squeezing out hate with love, and the volume of worldly power is reduced a little, while the volume of spiritual power is increased a little.

You are needed, only you can reshape certain parts of the world, appropriating them for the Kingdom – and it is through your manner – guided by the Spirit – that the world desires to be reshaped, allows itself to be reshaped, seeks to be reshaped. Carry on, move forward in confidence: Confidence in Your Lord.

From Shadow into Light

You cannot see God’s will through the barrier of sin.

Meditation Thought: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

The confessing of your sins – which is the recognition of them, and the repentance from them – will bring your soul from shadow into light: all truth is perceived in light; the Father’s work is done in light; knowledge is revealed in light.

You cannot be righteous at the same time you are sinful. And you cannot see God’s will through the barrier of sin. Therefore, seek out your sins, confess them, and be rid of them that you may be righteous and know God’s will: in this condition is God’s power released through His children, bringing the harvest after the time of cultivating in patient faith the principles He has sown in our hearts.

Plunge to the Depths

Enjoy your relationship with your Father, enjoy your trust in your Father, enjoy your activities with your Father, and all else will fall into place to bring you assurance and peace.

Meditation Thought: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed… Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life… And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.” (John 5: 19,20,22-24,37-38)

“You can hear the Father’s voice, see His form, and have His Word abiding in you – if you believe Him whom He has sent.

It is belief in My witness to Truth – to the reality of the Father’s existence, to the extent of His grace (in suffering Himself to save His children), and to the glory of His power.

The miracles recorded in the Word are only the ‘tip of the iceberg’. If you will put on your diving gear and plunge beneath the surface, where more than the ordinary perceptions lie – the ‘things’ that are the foundation underlying what is above the surface – you will have a totally new concept of the whole: of what is below (the spiritual truths) and what is above (the expression of those truths visibly in the world).

Once you return to the surface, to deal with life upon the upper part of the iceberg, you can make more knowledgeable decisions, based upon the underlying principles which cause the environment at the top to be as it is.

You know you are dealing with a large, complicated, partially hidden environment that must be understood, appreciated, and respected, and to which you must adapt yourself in order to promote a good, healthy, satisfying life.

To those who have not plunged the depths, your thoughts, your works and your actions will appear foolish and unbalanced. You must accept this – and have faith that, in due time, your actions, your words, and your thoughts will be vindicated and provide the opportunity to encourage others to try diving to observe the depths for themselves, that they may have transformed minds – and be new creations, more adaptable to their environment, and more pleased with it.

You will fail many times to achieve the results you envision as ‘right’ – but if you believe that these results are not final, but part of a scheme more grand, and a purpose more noble than you perceive, then this faith will create a movement toward the fulfillment of the scheme, and the reaching of the goal.

Do not fret that you have merely a child’s understanding of your Father’s creation and your Father’s purpose in that creation. Enjoy your relationship with your Father, enjoy your trust in your Father, enjoy your activities with your Father, and all else will fall into place to bring you assurance and peace.”

Me and Mine

If we sever the link through unbelief or lack of use, we are without supernatural power.

Meditation Thought: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

It is when my mind turns from my own body, my own desires, my own will and seeks communion with God’s mind – His mind as revealed through His Spirit within my mind: residing and available in my mind through my belief that His Spirit is real and is present in me.

As wealth is not beneficial until it is claimed as being real and being possessed, so the Spirit must be recognized as real and possessed to be beneficial.

The Spirit is the connecting link between God’s will and our will. If we sever the link through unbelief or lack of use, we are without supernatural power and living only with human powers – far more limited in scope and effect than when God’s power is flowing freely into us.

I strained and struggled,
Wept in frustration, pain, despair
Perceiving no progress,
Having no hope.
Exhausted, defeated, confused,
I limply lay,
Waiting for whatever would overtake me.

It was Love which came my way:
So intent had I been on me –
On where I chose to go,
What I desired to do,
I ran away
From the very place
That would be my joy.

Only when I stopped,
Unable to travel on
Did Love –
The will of God expressed and received willingly by His Child –
Find me.

I want to always
Be in this place:
The place where comfort, hope, fulfillment
Become real,
Transforming me.

I am no longer “me”,
But “me and mine” –
And “mine” includes
All whom I need
To enable me
To live in the kingdom,
The place which is home,
The shelter,
The comfort,
The joy,
The fulfillment,
Environment

“Me and mine”,
Now in our
Mobile home of Love,
Move on in time,
In space,
Toward our common goal –
To sure, complete,
Perfect understanding
And performance
Of the Father’s will.

Impulse vs. Best Possible Life

It is not “I” who do this – but the “I’m willing, Lord” that does all this.

Meditation Thought:  “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (John 4:34)

My body cannot live without food, my spirit cannot live without the Presence of the Father. It is my mind which instructs my body to partake of food. It is my mind which chooses to allow the Father to enter into my spirit. It is my mind which says “yes” or “no” to the proportions the Father places before me.

Wouldn’t it seem wise to go along with whatever was desired by the One who created me? He must be knowledgeable to do that. And He must know me well – know what will help me thrive and grow, and what will thwart healthy growth.

I must not yield to impulse, but seek to go along with the Father’s plans if I am to have the best possible life.

In the happy frame of mind made possible by a clear conscience, and in the enthusiasm of being a part of a creative activity, I do as the Father requests – and the joy of being in harmony with what I know is right is my food – it is what sustains me, gives me strength and health, vitality and a sense of overcoming – of moving aside any obstacles and producing a great work. It is not “I” who do this – but the “I’m willing, Lord” that does all this.

Increases and Decreases

Thus can I prepare the way not only properly, but with enthusiasm, energy, commitment and a sense of rightness.

Meditation Thought: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30)

Thoughts: Just as John the Baptist knew that he was to prepare the way for Jesus, so do I. And as John came under the influence of Jesus, he became aware that he must shift the people’s emphasis from himself to Jesus, and so must I.

So many people recorded in the New Testament leave records of success – success in sacrificing self, in sacrificing comforts, in sacrificing the easier ordinary run-of-the mill existence in order to go where they were needed to be a witness to God-come-upon-earth.

I get weary and discouraged at times as I attempt to seek to know more intimately this God-come-upon-the-earth-within-me, and to help others to know He does live and does live to reconcile us to the Father. At times, when the circumstances reveal an exciting work being done, or accomplished, I can rejoice, and all the doubts, fears and frustrations are as nothing… but, so much of the time, I have difficulty keeping up with what I perceive as my earthly duties as I attempt to perform my primary function (as I see it) of preparing the way for Jesus, and of focusing emphasis upon Him.

It’s the old adage, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” What I seek to embrace is to have me willing, and the Spirit strong. Thus can I prepare the way not only properly, but with enthusiasm, energy, commitment and a sense of rightness. And thus can I focus everyone upon Jesus, upon the Holy Spirit He has sent – as I seek to reveal these personalities, and the personality of the Father to others, I become more intimately acquainted with them myself – just as did John with Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I desire to use the talents You gave me to do Your will and Your works in the world. Enable me to perceive in each circumstance what You want me to know, and what You want me to do.

Help me to achieve a balance of spiritual and physical emphases in my life, that You are pleased, I am content, and the world is grateful.

Remove whatever causes my confusion and discouragement.

Help me to not dwell on what I perceive as negative results – but to turn these situations over to You that You may use Your knowledge and power to accomplish all You desire to do in every situation.

I want to do what You need me to do, as Your eyes, ears, mind, hands, feet and energy in the physical world – but I do not desire to take Your place, shutting You out. Please, Lord, teach me how to know Your will and to do it – to Your glory, my fulfillment, and the joy of the world,

In Jesus Precious Name I Pray. Amen.

Filled with Beauty

To be as actively sought and obviously desired by the most awesome, most loving, most wise, most powerful entity existing is mind-boggling; life-changing.

Meditation Thought: “But the Lord has become my stronghold,
    and my God the rock of my refuge.” (Psalm 94:22)

When I am weak, then I am strong – for my weakness is the container for the Lord’s power and His glory.

As an empty vase is not very attractive – nor is it serving its inherent purpose, so am I unattractive and not fulfilling my purpose of life if I am not filled with the lovely Spirit of the Lord. It is the beauty of the Lord which is the primary focus – or should be the primary focus – as others observe my life. If they are more observing of me as the container, then I am not appearing as I should be – for my purpose is to hold up the Lord to be viewed, and to serve as a complimentary, but unobtrusive aid to Him, as He seeks to influence and to minister to the world.

To be even slightly needed by the most awesome, most loving, most wise, most powerful entity existing is mind-boggling – but to be as actively sought and obviously desired and needed as God reveals to me is the case, through His Word, His human witness, and His indwelling Spirit’s revelations and works in my life is to be life-changing: life changing for me and for all whose lives touch mine!

Flourish

Life – not just existence, but life in all its fullness, in its glory.

Meditation Thought: “The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” (Psalm 92:12-15)

The reason that the righteous flourish, grow and produce, even in old age, is that they are watered by the Spirit of the Lord, which brings and sustains life – not just existence, but life in all its fullness, in its glory.

The very fullness and glory are a witness to the Lord who has made them possible – and there is an ongoing reaction which is both satisfying and exciting, as the growth produces fruit, and then the fruit itself produces growth. Some fruit reproduces in kind, and some is used as food to enhance growth in something different than the nature of the fruit itself. This adds zest and an unknown mystical quality to life.

“Variety is the spice of life” must be a reflection of the Father’s philosophy for it is so evident everywhere.

We need to realize that one variety is not ‘better’ than another – and that the difference exists for a particular purpose – that since environments and circumstances are varied, so too do those creatures and things living in various places need to be adaptive to their site.

We need to recognize that although the righteous all flourish as the palm, and grow like a cedar, the forms they take are of infinite variety, and God loves them all, desires all flourish and grow, each according to his particular inheritance and specific site (circumstances) and specific instructions from God as to good ways to grow and flourish.

The Baton is Passed

What trust They have in me!

Meditation Thought: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High… will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him…” (Psalm 91:14)
“ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

The commitment of four personalities is involved in the fulfilling of the Father’s promise to His children:
– I must choose to dwell in the Father’s home which He makes available to me (the kingdom) and to hold fast to Him in love.
– The Father must act as my deliverer and
– The Son as the Father’s message-bearer and instrument by which the Father acts to deliver me from harm,
– The Spirit comes to me in order that I may ‘be in the right place at the right time’, and respond properly to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit as they act.

I must also have prepared myself through knowledge of scripture in order that I may perceive accurately just what is taking place. If any of us fail to act responsibly, the process breaks down and the desired result of the Father’s promise to me is not fulfilled.

There is no doubt that there is only one place where the breakdown could occur – that is in myself, for I am the ‘variable’, the one who can choose to accept or reject the Father’s, Son and Holy Spirit’s actions, who can determine the fulfillment of the promise by either taking up the ‘baton’ which They hand over to me for my completion of the ‘race’, or by refusing to accept the baton, or dropping it or refusing to run, I can lose the race for all of us.

What trust They have in me! Can I really disappoint such marvelous Friends? – not friends – Family? Not if I am aware of Who They are in character, and what They desire to do for me through my completion of the race.

Prayer: Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit – thank you for already doing so much of the preliminary preparation for the completion of the race – and then giving me all possible support as I do my own part.

Enable me to have courage strength and fortitude that I may not fail You nor myself. In Jesus Precious Name, and in gratitude for the Father’s love, the Son’s shed blood, the Spirit’s sweet, soft touch, I pray. Amen.

Challenging & Fulfilling

When God’s favor is upon us, what joy this brings!

Meditation Thought:
“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!”
(Psalm 90:15-17)

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us – and establish the work of our hands”: the two could be reversed – for if God establishes our work, then His favor shall be upon us as we do His will. And when God’s favor is upon us, what joy this brings! It’s the kind of joy Paul had – knowing he was doing work established by God, and knowing God was pleased by his work, he could observe, despite terrible persecutions and difficulties, the fruits of his labor. He knew he was not running in vain. His work was challenging – but fulfilling.

Many times he was tired, discouraged, disappointed and in pain physically and in spirit. But he persevered in doing God’s work. And he developed a spirit, an attitude, an outlook, that could claim “whatever state I am in I rejoice.”