Category: Obedience

This Moment

The moments are linked together in an unbroken chain. When one is moved it tends to pull the other moments in the same direction.

Meditation Thought: “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)

“I am the Lord of all and none can escape me. Trust that total care is My will and My way. You do not see anything but what I would have you see: therefore treat what you do see as crucial, as My focusing you upon it for My purposes. This moment is all that exists for you to understand and do; feel confident that it is the most critical moment of your life – and treat it accordingly. The moments – the impact of what the moments contain – are linked together in an unbroken chain. When one is moved – whether toward Me or away from Me – it tends to pull the other moments in the same direction. That is why each moment’s action is more important than you realize. You need to keep the chain building and moving in My direction. I am using that chain in ways you cannot see to fulfill My plans for the world. Do not let Me down, but build Me up – for every loving thought or action, every word of praise, every hope in faith, every prayer expressed, enhances My glory and expands My Kingdom.”

Seasonal Harvesting

…only a determination to allow God to work His will in us that His truth may be kept pure in us, His love may pour into and out of us, his power might be released magnificently through us.

Meditation Thought: “And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)

The condition must be met before the harvest can appear. The heart must be honest: no little deceits such as the world accepts – no half-truths, no glossing over, but the heart must hold only pure truth, God’s truth, uncorrupted. The heart must be good: no evil tainting it, no selfish motives, no rebellion at God’s purposes – only a determination to allow God to work His will in us that His truth may be kept pure in us, His love may pour into and out of us, his power might be released magnificently through us.

We cannot try to force the harvest before it is ready – for if we interfere, we will damage the seed and either delay the harvest or reap very little or nothing. we must be willing to allow God’s timing to become our timing, His seasons must be adopted by us as natural, as comfortable – even desirable.

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.”

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”.