Category: Love

When I Am

When I am surrounded by enemies – no matter of what kind: real or imagined, physical or spiritual, feelings or thoughts – God rescues me when I call upon Him

Meditation Thought: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; The God of my strength, in whom I will trust.” (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

When I am standing upon rock, I am confident that I will not sink down into mire and find myself unsteady or unable to move freely.

When I am in my fortress, I am protected from harm.

When I am surrounded by enemies – no matter of what kind: real or imagined, physical or spiritual, feelings or thoughts – God rescues me when I call upon Him.

My weakness leaves me vulnerable but His strength overcomes all problems. I trust my Lord because He has proved Himself to me – His promises are real, and He backs them up with His actions.

P.E.A.C.E.

We can rest assured that we no longer need to fear the dark.

Meditation Thought: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“You light up my life” – a few words from an old song, but what meaning! In the dark, we are afraid, uncertain of what surrounds us, where to go; we are apprehensive, nervous. A sudden illumination of light – and instant change: our fears vanish, we are assured, we are at peace.

With the Light inside of us illuminating everything with which we come in contact, we can rest assured that we no longer need to fear the dark – for there will be no dark for us. There will be all kinds of circumstances, situations, places – but always clearly seen, as our Guide is with us to deal with them.

P – Pray
E – Everything
A – Anytime
C – Circumstances
E – Everywhere

Psalm 23: A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Building a Tower of Strength

Your perception of reality will become as different as when you look at a beam of light when it is up at the little hole in the projection booth, and when you look at that same light as it hits the movie screen.

Meditation Thought: “Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37:4)

‘Delight in the Lord’ – and His delights shall be our delights – and His delights will be manifested in the world, or at least the Kingdom of His believers. Therefore if our delights are identical with His delights, it follows that we shall receive whatever delights us. The key is to be so ‘in love’ with the Lord that His desires become our desires also.

“Take heart – you will come to Me in fullness; first comes the acquaintance, then the friendship, then the tentative love, then the complete love. Be happy in each stage; none can be skipped, for one builds upon the other. Concentrate on the strength of what you are building, that the next stage will have the base in needs to become a ‘tower of strength’.

Your perception of reality will become as different as when you look at a beam of light when it is up at the little hole in the projection booth, and when you look at that same light as it hits the movie screen. There is nothing untrue about it up at the little hole – but what is revealed by it as it illuminates the screen is not comparable to what is revealed by it as it is barely out of the projector. So shall your perception be changed in what it illuminates of the Kingdom, as the area of focusing changes, broadens.”

Trial and Success

Apparent failures turn into successes under God’s loving guidance.

Meditation Thought: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the victor’s crown, the life God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

“Trial and error” – a way of life we have considered normal. But it is not normal for a Christian relying on God’s directions: His life is “trial and success” – for apparent failures turn into successes under God’s loving guidance and protection. This knowledge gives us strength to bear up under trial, that God might bring us further along the way He desires us to be. And the more we become His heart’s desire, the more we can stand the trial, and the more successful the transformation becomes.

Daily Rescue

We do not have to wait for help to come, it is present all the time.

Meditation Thought: “Blessed be the Lord,
    who daily bears us up;
    God is our salvation. ” (Psalm 68:19)

Praise first, acknowledging the power, the ability, the willingness of our Lord, our God to help us – and our acknowledging this fact and our appreciation of it. He daily bears us up – we do not have to wait for help to come, it is present all the time.

We are presented with a problem: we do not panic, we know where to turn to find the solution: God is our salvation – our rescuer. With a Rescuer with such power, such love, why should we fear? As long as we call upon Him we overcome all difficulties, and we can enjoy much of the process in doing so – certainly we can bear the suspense, knowing the solution will please us and bring glory to God.

Hope Does Not Fail

What better description for a life of peace and victory?

Meditation Thought: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

Afflicted (hard pressed) – not crushed
Perplexed – not in despair
Persecuted – not abandoned (forsaken)
Struck down – not destroyed

What better description for a life of peace and victory? No matter what the circumstances, hope does not fail, for “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

We are not crushed, despaired, abandoned or destroyed because we are not alone, we know our “Reserves” are coming to back us up – all we need do is to wait for them to come to change the situation. What a difference it is to know that our uncomfortable position is only temporary – and that good is being worked in it for us.

It’s easy to take discomfort when you know it is bringing rewards later, easy to take when you know it is improving you every minute. We don’t seek discomfort or problems, but when they come (as they do to believers and non-believers alike), we can rise above them in our minds as our minds concentrate on God, seeking His will – His wisdom – His solutions. Soon – or at least on God’s schedule – we have not only our minds, but every part of us risen above the discomfort and problem and feel exhilarated and happier for the overcoming of the trouble, for the knowing more completely than ever before, that God is sufficient. As we come closer to Him in trust, we can not only throw off fear of events, we can almost welcome trouble because we know God will work so much good from it that eventually it will become a blessing.

Words Become Energy

When it seems difficult to determine the will of the Father, draw close to the Son.

Meditation Thought: “And whoever sees me sees him who sent me.” (John 12:45)

“I am the light – that you might see – and what you see bears heavily on what you think and do. It is imperative that you see Truth if you are to be a citizen of the Kingdom. And the only way of seeing Truth is by believing the Word. Don’t just look at the words and hear the words, but let the words penetrate into you – into your mind, into your heart, into your spirit, so that the words become alive in you – they become energy instead of ideas.

To see the Father – the Creator and continued Guide of all things, to understand Him, you need only to look at the Son. When it seems difficult to determine the will of the Father, draw close to the Son and He will reveal the Father’s will, for He does the will of the Father and came to guide you too in the will of the Father.

The Son is:
loving
obedient
trustworthy
active
thoughtful
patient
kind
available
giving
humble
healing
soothing
charitable
loyal
willing
able
confident.”

Miracle Workers

Not a thought, not the smallest of actions is neutral: everything is either to the glory of God – or the delight of Satan.

Meditation Thought: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Not a thought, not the smallest of actions is neutral: everything is either to the glory of God – or the delight of Satan. Practice, practice: learn the meaning of the Word, and having this knowledge, seek the wisdom of the Spirit – by these shall you think and act to the glory of God.

And by these shall you think and act to the salvation of the world: your world – and the worlds it touches.

Let not your preoccupation with your feelings, your desires, your will, short-circuit the flow of power from heaven into your world. The Word and the Spirit are the miracle workers – through the willing mind and body of the believer. A willing mind and body are constructed from a willing spirit seeking beyond self: seeking to know from whom they came, and to whom they belong, and to whom they give glory.

I come not with
pounding drums
Nor searchlights
and parades:
Those you could
not ignore.
I come softly,
quietly, with gentle touch.
Asking, not demanding –
Will you follow Me?
For I go to bring
glory to God;
I seek to show you the way.
The limits you have,
So I had too.
And as I overcame
by yielding My will,
So I show you too:
The Father’s will is
the grace of His glory
Bringing peace and joy
and love.

Master Weaver

Set your goal high: as high as heaven.

Meditation Thought: “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11) “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15)

“Take the thread of life which I place before you; seek to study the instructions on how to weave it into a beautiful blanket: an all-purpose blanket to be shared again and again to provide warmth, shelter and beauty for many.

Do not be dismayed by difficulties, but know that they arise so that you will seek to be more creative in using the talents (thread) which I have given you.

I do not propose for you to weave a plain, monotonous blanket. No, it must have depth of texture, contrasts of color, variety of design. It shall be as a tapestry which tells a story as it is observed from one part to another.

Do not allow Satan to make flaws in it by listening to his instructions rather than Mine – oh, they are so much easier for you to follow. They take little effort, little concentration – and the results are disastrous; they are displeasing to you and to others.

Set your goal high: as high as heaven. You know there is a “best” for each moment of your life: seek to weave the best pattern in the best colors. You can do it, if you:

  • Seek to know My will, moment by moment
  • Seek to do My will moment by moment
  • Seek to rejoice in doing My will, moment by moment.

Peace and joy are the marks of My will expressed as your “best” weaving: your peace, your joy – and the peace and joy of all who know you.”

Fresh – Pure – Lovely

Life is meant to be actively lived, not passively endured!

Meditation Thought: “Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:4)

“My judgment has been revealed, and My judgment is: forgiveness. I seek to love you. Will you seek to love me? Can you put aside the fears and misconceptions the world has thrust upon you when you were vulnerable – before you put on the armor of My Spirit? You can, you know.

You need not keep any irritants within you – let My Spirit wash them out. Through the yielding to the rushing flow of My Spirit you can be cleansed – constantly made fresh and pure and lovely. But you must be willing: you must recognize that at times the waters will be removing such entrenched irritants that there will be temporary pain. Do not stop the flow at these times or some of the irritant will remain.

Keep the flow strong by seeking to know what to think, how to pray, what actions to take. Why live a life ‘in limbo’? Look at the physical evidence which surrounds you: there is color, movement, substance. Life is meant to be actively lived, not passively endured!

Get up from your sick bed of rebellion and pity and sloth and distress: Follow Me. We have many places to go and things to do, each place an interesting vista, each action an exciting adventure, every day an eagerly anticipated event!

We can change the world: we can exchange the world for the Kingdom in each heart which will open to our knock. Come, let us put out our nets, that we may bring hearts within our reach. My judgment consists not of vengeance but of love, and we must teach the truth of this wherever Satan has deceived a heart with his lies about this.”