Category: journey

Stranger or Friend

What joy to know that we do not need to struggle and flounder, but only need to heed His voice and follow Him to find our place, our joy, our needs supplied.

Meditation Thought: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27)

We do not recognize a stranger’s voice: we must come to know Jesus before we can know His voice, and follow it to all the good pastures where He wants to lead us. He knows us, too, and wants us with Him. ‘Come’ – Jesus says this word so often. If He is our Shepherd, then we will come, for we know He cares for us, seeks out whatever is for our good. What joy to know that we do not need to struggle and flounder, but only need to heed His voice and follow Him to find our place, our joy, our needs supplied.

Original Condition

A little selfishness in one area attracts selfishness in another area – a generous thought and action attracts another generous thought and action.

Meditation Thought:  “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” (Luke 16:10)

Everything has its own nature, its own qualities that make it unique. The total of these qualities is a reflection of the individual parts, which, though different, do fit in with each other in a compatible way – there are qualities that are desirable and qualities that are undesirable. Like attracts like in the makeup of our natures; a little selfishness in one area attracts selfishness in another area – a generous thought and action attracts another generous thought and action so that, no matter whether the incident is minor or crucial, our sum of our parts, whether they be desirable or undesirable, determines our actions.

As we become aware of the nature of our parts, if some parts are not consistent with what God created in us (before our sin), then we can work at yielding and changing those parts back into original condition, so that the total of our parts will add up to God-inspired thoughts and actions in every situation, no matter how major or minor it might be. And therein lies the goal for all creation – to have our nature purified back to original God-creations and the full relationship with Him which was Him intention as He created us.

Freedom Revelation

You cannot know Me by just wanting to know Me – you must be willing to listen.

Meditation Thought:  “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

“I reveal myself to you through My words. Knowing Me is knowing Truth, and so to know Truth, you must know my words. You cannot know Me by just wanting to know Me – you must be willing to listen to Me reveal Myself to you. You must give of yourself in time, in using your mind to learn My words. And when the Truth is revealed to you, you must take action in accordance with your new knowledge.

Believe enough to act in courage in the face of ridicule, in the face of harm – to persist in spite of all obstacles to live according to My Spirit within you. Do not be overwhelmed by what you see confronting you: turn within to Me to move all obstacles aside that might prevent the movement of My personality where I would have it go. The larger the obstacle looms, the more exciting is the result of moving it aside, the more confidence gained that we can move wherever we wish to go together.”

Keep Power Flowing

Waste no energy on debating; simply choose love: giving joyfully and praising Me.

Meditation Thought: “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…” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“Choose consciously.” Exercise your capacity to choose constantly and you will become stronger, better able to engage the flow of My power in you. I will not condemn your choices – but you know which choices release My power more forcefully, as a cause and effect reaction. You will become better at more forceful choices as you reinforce one forceful choice by choosing a second forceful choice – and this repetition will keep My power flowing forcefully. Act in love at each moment, recalling the definitions of love in My Word, and this automatically assures that your choice of the moment is the one which is the one to release My power is a forceful way. Waste no energy on debating; simply choose love: giving joyfully and praising Me – an efficient key to unlock the life of the Kingdom at each moment.

More Than You Think You Can

When you put Me first, the door is unlocked to the Kingdom, and the Kingdom contains everything you need for every situation.

Meditation Thought: “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord” (Acts 3:19)

“Look at the ‘big picture’ to keep from being mired down in petty details. Take bold steps to reach your goal, and, trusting My power will be your booster, move as much as you can – more than you think you can. Your movement activates My movement, and then real changes take place. We change whole landscapes, not little details here and there.

You know where the key is: use it. When you put Me first, the door is unlocked to the Kingdom, and the Kingdom contains everything you need for every situation; you merely choose whatever you need by reaching for it. But you must use your knowledge of how to put Me first and how to reach for what you need (in the Kingdom), or you are still turned backwards toward the world and are frustrated and ineffective.”

What To Do When You Don’t Know What To Do

The peace comes from the nestling in God’s arms and allowing Him to take us where He will.

Meditation Thought: “You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Whose mind is steadfast on You”
whose thoughts are the thoughts of God,
whose energy is the energy of God,
whose will is the will of God,
whose actions are the actions of God,
whose power is the power of God.

The peace comes from the nestling in God’s arms and allowing Him to take us where He will assign us what He will, and to yield to His instruction and help instead of rushing away from Him when He sets us down to do our tasks. We need to be with Him to do the job together.

We are together when we are conscious of His words,
when we are in prayer,
when we are ministering in His Name and are giving Him the glory.
We are together when we praise Him,
when we thank him,
when we beseech Him.

He allows for all kinds of variety so that He can work appropriately in each situation – if we look for His appropriate solution to the situation and yield to it in trust. If we don’t have specific guidance, we can:
1) apply His general principles according to His word
2) pray for guidance
3) praise
4) claim our faith as evidence of the good we envision coming from the situation, and
5) pray for, minister to, and love everyone involved in the situation.

Where to Run for Safety

Only when we direct our mind, our heart, our body, away from the tower are we subject to the fears, the dangers, the panic and the uncertainties of this world.

Meditation Thought: “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

The tower stays put. Only by choosing to go so far from it that we forget about it can we really get into danger. Only when we direct our mind, our heart, our body, away from the tower are we subject to the fears, the dangers, the panic and the uncertainties that the worldly experience. When we keep ourselves in the protection and the guidance of the tower, by keeping within its sight, we can move freely, joyfully, confidently – no matter what situation might be involved. But the door of the tower opens only to those who can find it: and to find it we must be able to see it. To see it, we must have the Light reveal it to us, we must allow the Light (Jesus) to shine by allowing (asking) Him to remove our covering of sin, of unbelief, of disobedience.

Tribulation to Jubilation

I have the power, the desire and the knowledge to do this – but you must invite me to come with you.

Meditation Thought: ” In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

“If you will allow me to join you in your tribulation, I will transform it into jubilation. I have the power, the desire and the knowledge to do this – but you must invite me to come with you, and you must trust and obey Me in order to make this transformation.

Look at each tribulation as an opportunity for growth of our relationship, for growth of power in your life, for growth of a dynamic, fulfilled life. As your perception changes from negative to positive, so as a photograph changes from the negative, which is a confusing and unclear and not a proper reflection, into the positive picture, your tribulation will change into a clear reflection of My will – and My will is always for good for you. The negative must be made first, however, before the positive print can be made from it, for sin has prevented the making of a direct positive reflection of My will. At first you will see only dim outlines, but as we work together, the picture will become clearer, and finally the lovely print titled “Jubilation” will emerge.”

Begin Your Apprenticeship

Prayer energy is the power needed in the world, and prayer-generators are needed.

Meditation Thought: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

“You have the choice to control your thoughts, your actions. Choose Divine Kingdom thoughts and actions. The separation of these from the worldly is easy: they are unselfish, loving, and the goal is to glorify the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit – the Holy Family. Pray, act on your prayers, believe on your prayers – exercise prayer in every form continuously: prayer energy is the power needed in the world, and prayer-generators are needed. Take up the profession of that of an operator of the generation of prayer-power. You are starting your apprenticeship – work hard at learning your job. Keep trying – you will become more adept as you gain experience and knowledge as various ways of teaching you are available and you respond to them.

You must move ahead to work at your task – but secure in the knowledge that your Teacher is beside yo to encourage, to correct your mistakes, to guide you to the joy of becoming competent at your work – not only competent, but eager to do it, fulfilled in doing it.”

Human Desire vs. Divine Desire

Only when we can overcome our natural human desire to hold on to what we have, and give in to the Divine desire to surrender our will, can we look forward to our bread coming back – in more abundance, in more desirable form.

Meditation Thought: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1)

This is another way of learning to trust God – we deliberately give up what we have to Him – trusting Him to provide our needs. When we get brave enough to let go of what we have, and especially as we continue to trust God in the period that we see nothing for us in the water, God is able through our “faith being the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1) to make those things as a tangible substance, our prayers answered, our blessings received.

Only when we can overcome our natural human desire to hold on to what we have, and give in to the Divine desire to surrender our will, can we look forward to our bread coming back – in more abundance, in more desirable form. And the period of doing without the bread being available to us intensifies our joy as we receive the transformed bread. We know excitement and awe we never would have realized had we kept the bread to ourselves.

“Give and it shall be given you, pressed down and running over.” (Luke 6:38)