Category: Obedience

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.”

Consulting the Guidebook

God’s works are always great, and right and inclusive and far-reaching.

Meditation Thought: “ Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

“Do the works”, ‘Do’ – an active verb, requiring a thought, a decision and a movement. ‘Works’ – changes, results, accomplishments. If we need a guide for God’s plan for us:
– Believe His Word.
– Think about each situation in terms of His Word.
– Decide what to do according to His Word and His circumstances and His leading
– Act, based on Jesus’ example of God-type action
– Praise the results, whatever they appear to be.

Trust God that He is doing the works through us and God’s works are always great, and right and inclusive and far-reaching. They coordinate, they complete, they make the whole more than the sum of the parts.

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.”

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)

Freedom From

But – oh, what a relief when that chain is removed! How wonderful it feels to be able to stretch, to move – how excited we are at the new freedom!

Meditation Thought: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Each personality of the Trinity has truths to teach, and each truth releases a new area of freedom: There is:
– freedom from fear
– freedom from guilt
– freedom from discouragement
– freedom from pain
– freedom from lack of confidence
– freedom from indecision.

As we allow each Personality to get close to us, He reaches down and works loose another chain which has been binding us. We need to cooperate, need perhaps to even endure some pain in order that the chain may be worked into proper position for removal. But – oh, what a relief when that chain is removed! How wonderful it feels to be able to stretch, to move – how excited we are at the new freedom!

God intends for us to have all chains removed, but He cannot accomplish this if by our actions we restrict His actions. We must be very perceptive to His instructions and cooperate with His moments, or we will bind the chains tighter instead of helping with their removal.

Suggested Prayer:

Dear Father, Son, Holy Spirit: my friends, my Ones coming to my rescue – I welcome You into every area of my life – and I ask Your help in removing any chains in any area. I may be so accustomed to some of the chains that I am not even aware that they exist. Please make me aware that they are there and that we must remove them. I know now that I have only the tiniest glimpse of what You see me as being when the chains are removed – the that glimpse is enough to encourage me to say whole-heartedly: “Let’s get on with the job of removing the chains”.

Always Gain, Never Loss

Our relationship must grow so that our time together is not even ‘second nature’ to you – but first nature.

Meditation Thought: “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future.” (Proverbs 19:20)

“Take one step at a time: the crux is to take that step in the right direction. It will be easier for you if you decide each moment as if it were just one step. You know what direction one step should be to reach the goal already planned. Do not change goals on impulse, for you only go further away from My goal for you, and then I must turn you around to retrace your mistaken steps, and you have lost time which can never be replaced. Think of the time with Me as recharging your batteries. If you go on and on, you will lose power and be stopped completely even though it appeared you were gaining time by going on the your tasks.

Your time with Me will give you:
– assurance of going in the proper direction
– extra power
– extra wisdom in choices
– extra confidence
– extra peace
– extra joy.

Time with Me – devotion to Me – is always gain, never loss. It is when you are most harried, most pressed for time, that you need time with Me the most urgently. You know this now enough to do it frequently – but it is still a conflict for you – our relationship must grow so that our time together is not even ‘second nature’ to you – but first nature. Rely on Me, obey Me moment by moment with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength”

A Superior Toolbox

The more words of God we know, the more we learn of God.

Meditation Thought: “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

Even human words have great effect. The course of history can be changed by only a word: ‘love’ or ‘hate’; ‘go’ or ‘come’. But God’s words have power far beyond human power and we do well to stand in awe of them and to heed them.

The more words of God we know, the more we learn of God – and the more we know of God, the more we know of everything. As we come to know God, we come to realize that He can be trusted: that when He allows something into our lives, it is for a purpose. We don’t always look at it as an opportunity, however, and therefore it becomes a burden rather than the blessing that was available if we had been the proper catalyst to change it into one.

When we are causing action, if it is God’s energy and direction working through us, that action is going to rearrange the situation into good. We need to look carefully to be sure that we reach for the tools that God is handing down, and do not use tools coming from another source.

We know God’s tools are consistent with scripture, and consistent with the personality of Jesus, and will be visible in prayer. They may be in any shape or in any form, but handed to us in love, in gentleness and not forced – for God wants us to use His tools, but He also wants us to want to use them. And when we do – wow – they are so superior to other tools we have used that we become eager to continue to use them. If we choose carefully and alertly, we will be able to discern which tools are truly God’s tools.

Willingly

Do you believe that you are commanded to worship Me because I seek to honored as men seek to be honored – for vain glory? Oh, no – I seek to be first in your life because as your father, I place your welfare first in My heart. I love you!

Meditation Thought: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” (Luke 4:8, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13)

“First things first. ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ Do you believe that you are commanded to worship Me because I seek to honored as men seek to be honored – for vain glory? Oh, no – I seek to be first in your life because as your father, I place your welfare first in My heart. I love you! I love you, spirit of My Spirit! And I seek your love that you may trust Me, heed Me and reap the benefits therefrom.

Who knows you better than I?
And who knows every child better than I?
Who knows what is Truth better than I?
Who knows the condition and circumstances of the world better than I?
And who knows how to bring all into peace, harmony, fulfillment better than I?

You know – but to hear Me you must tune out the clamor of other voices: Hear Me first, then can you judge which pleas to heed, and which to refute. You will be able to discern which will serve Me – and which will serve another.

Be strong in the strength of My might: by My Word shall My Spirit give you strength, wisdom, courage, and power.
To move mountains.
To feed the hungry.
To heal the sick.
To clothe the naked.
To take the good news to the poor.
To open the eyes of the blind.
To bring sinners to repentance.

Expressed in only one way: Love. Not with disappointment, judgment, condemnation, lectures. But with sharing love, sharing all that is good within you. Giving what is precious to you – that it may be multiplied back to you. Hoard no treasure; give it away that it may be enhanced and returned to you – to be given away again to be enhanced – ad infinitum.

The flowing river is the pure water, not the stagnant pool of collection. Build the temple of your life upon the Word of Truth, that it shall stand against the storms of strife. That the light from within shall dispel the darkness without. That all who come near may rejoice and be glad they took the path that brought them near to you, for in being near to you, can they find Me if you have built your temple to be My dwelling place.

I seek to dwell in hearts of unselfish love, of minds thinking upon the Word, of spirits seeking My Spirit.”

Suggested prayer: Father, please accept
my yielding of my will to you,
my yielding of my mind to you,
my yielding of my spirit to you,
my yielding of my body to you,
my yielding of my emotions to you,
my yielding of all I ‘posses’ to you:

I give them willingly, trustingly, joyfully, knowing that they shall but be enhanced by your possession of them. And as you return them to me, then shall I become the image of You. You place your mark upon them, that I may know, and others know, that I recognize You as having first place in my life.

I pray in Jesus’ name that I may understand precisely what this commitment means at every moment of my life. Amen.