Category: peace

Lavish Goodness

Even if others have cause to worry, you do not.

Meditation Thought: “The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.” (Psalm 142:7)

“I shall deal bountifully with you because I love you. The more clearly you perceive My love, the more effectively I can minister to you – for your joyful acceptance of My love and My care and My guidance is what I need to bless you as I desire to do. To lavish all that is good upon you:
Wisdom
Knowledge
Self-control
Generosity
Grace
Beauty
Peace
Joy
Love
Understanding
Excitement and
Enthusiasm in appreciation of all creation.

Continue to seek My Word and My will. This is the most prolific harvest available: the production of all of the above blessings from your seed of seeking My Word and My will.

My Word, however, is not all that is available to you. Jesus has released “super power” into your spirit that you may may mature more quickly, completely, and more fruitfully.

You have this assurance: In everything I work good for you for you love Me and are called according to My purpose. Even if others have cause to worry, you do not – your strength to cope with anything is unlimited when your spirit is yielded to My Spirit in faith and hope and love.”

Understanding God’s Love and Protection

Come to realize that when you turn your eyes toward me, you are not turning them to a distant point, but inward to your mind, your spirit, your heart, and your body.

Meditation Thought: “For my eyes are toward You, O God, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.” (Psalm 141:8)

When your eyes are on me, you have total refuge and total defense. This is because in me you find knowledge, wisdom, guidance and strength.

Come to realize that when you turn your eyes toward me, you are not turning them to a distant point, but inward to your mind, your spirit, your heart, and your body. It is in these places that I’d dwell, through your faith in Jesus Christ as your savior.

The more you comprehend that we are so close together, as arm in arm the more effectively you can perceive my will

You have been conceiving of me as separate from you. Conceive of me as close as anyone can be to you, in body, in mind, in sympathetic understanding of common emotions, in a rapport of having similar character.

In this way, you’ll be able to feel my presence in you, and will be able to live the life of the new creature in Christ.

You are my beloved child, for whom I not only would sacrifice my own life, but I did! This is how much I love you! This is the extent to which I go to ensure you’re having a place of refuge and a sure defense. Now, do you understand the scripture for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and a sound mind?

This spirit, which I have given you in response to your faith in Jesus as savior is the Holy Spirit: the spirit of power and love and a sound mind.

The purpose of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit is to blend you and me together into such close association that we become as one in thought, in word, and in deed.

No matter the circumstances, no matter the intent of evil, or those who are ignorant, always those who have their eyes on me, and my spirit within, living resurrection out of death, good out of harm, and rescue out of peril, for I am their defense. I am power, I am love, I am sound mind, and no foe can overthrow these.

Unparalleled Companionship

Upon my invitation, God does not rule me; He nourishes me.

Meditation Thought: ““Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.” Acts 9:34

Peter did not seek to have Christ dwell in him for the purpose of power to do miracles – he sought Christ to dwell in him because Christ promised him that he would come if the would invite Him. He didn’t know specifically what would happen when He was given priority in his life – but he knew that he could trust Him.

I too seek to yield whatever authority I have to Jesus for He brings the authority of God into my life – not to be domineering and autocratic, nor even take over everything for my own good. No, the Father’s authority is the shelter of my life.

God does not rule me; He nourishes me. When I know this, and when I recognize God as the One who
Cherishes me,
Protects me,
Encourages me,
Comforts me, and
Guides me into the best places for me to be, then I can yield my authority willingly, trustingly and knowledgeably to the authority of Jesus Christ within me.

He is the most desirable companion possible with whom to move through the years of life in this world. If God is for me, who can be against me?

The Power of Patience

And so I have hope.

Meditation Thought: “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.” (Psalm 130:5)

I am not God. I do not instantly know the truth of any situation. Therefore, I must wait for the Lord’s instructions to me that I may act in wisdom. I can have hope because I know:
– The Lord loves me – He created me in His image and therefore He cares about me and for me.
– He has given me the ability to learn what He would desire that I know.
– He longs for me to become knowledgeable about ‘the way things are’ and He has hope in my discernment to act accordingly.

I can rejoice in the situations where I realize that I am learning what my Father desires me to learn and I can hope even in the midst of situations which are displeasing to me – whether due to my own mistakes or whether they exist for the opportunity of my learning and growing. Eventually, and in either event, when I seek the Lord’s will, and His help, and His strength, the situations all change into circumstances which bring glory to Him and joy to us both and fulfillment and peace to my soul.

And so I have hope. As long as I have the Spirit of the Lord working within me, I have all I need – both now and in the future.

Step-by-Step: Seeking Lord’s Guidance in Decision Making

Do not make complications where none are intended.

Meditation Thought: “Moses answered them, ‘Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.'” (Numbers 9:8)

Look before you leap. Look to the Lord – where? You have His Word, you have His life – both as a record and His strength within you. Do not make complications where none are intended. Step by step, do what seems right After
1. Prayer
2. Listening
3. Analyzing for
a) priorities
b) the details of the situation
c) likely consequences – both positive and negative.

And, when the deed is done, pray the Lord’s will be done – and trust that it will, and do not speculate any further.

Finding Peace in God’s Grace

Take heart!

Meditation Thought: “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord let his face shine upon you…” (Numbers 6:24-25a)

But you want to choose the way of blessing don’t you? You want to decide where He keeps you? And you want His face to shine on you whether you are within His kingdom, or whether you are rebelling in the world?

Take heart! You at least recognize your willfulness, stubbornness and contrariness. You want to want the Father’s will – and that is a beginning!

Stay in prayer, in supplication, in thanksgiving – and make your requests known. You shall have “the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) – it may be that your desires shall be what is changed, not circumstances. Do not plot and plan, get tense and fight what is disappointing to you. Relax. My Grace is sufficient for you. Do you believe this?

(Yes, Lord. I believe – help my unbelief!) (Mark 9:24)

Embrace the Unseen: Finding True Prosperity

The kingdom’s definition and the fulfillment of the promise of the kingdom’s prosperity and success shall be your peace, your joy, your fulfillment.

Meditation Thought: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. The unseen shall be the developing of the seen. Your thoughts, your energy, your time and your commitment to My Word, My Son and My Spirit shall bring you prosperity and success. Prosperity and success not in the world’s definition but in the Kingdom’s definition.

The kingdom’s definition and the fulfillment of the promise of the kingdom’s prosperity and success shall be your peace, your joy, your fulfillment. No good thing shall you lack, for I am your Father: loving, encouraging, delighting in you as My precious child. I am not a harsh taskmaster – any discipline I administer is for your good: to teach you, to prepare you, that your challenges of life will be met in confidence, and overcome with enthusiasm.

Together are we not equal to any circumstance? Together are we not equal to any task? Together shall we not cause the success and prosperity of the kingdom to displace the failures and poverty of the world?

We meet, embrace,
Come together as one.
Not complete was one alone.
Larger now, complementing one another
In appearance,
Declaring strength.
Rejoicing in hope.
We are met – and melded – and molded:
Pliable, yet withstanding pressure –
Pressure which would separate us,
Reversing our gains.
We shall be firm – in purpose
We shall be soft – in comfort
We shall be what we should be,
What we desire to be:
A portion of the kingdom.
And being such,
Changing a dreary world
From a rebellious misfit
Into an orderly, joyful, place –
Annexed by the kingdom,
Surprised – but pleased!

The Power of Worship: Finding Your Path to Serve the Lord

The first step is to acknowledge that I am not master of my own destiny. The second step is to realize that I do affect my destiny. The third is to seek how to choose wisely as I am confronted with alternatives.

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

Who is the Lord that I should worship him? Who is the Lord that I should serve him?

The Lord is more powerful than any other creature of power.
The Lord is everywhere.
The Lord is wise, loving, just, righteous, merciful.

Are these qualities which I should value? Of course – and not only value, but determine the significance of them in relationship to me.

To be ignorant of the structure of life is to lack the knowledge and the wisdom to make decisions which will be in harmony with that structure, and thus bring positive results.

The first step is to acknowledge that I am not master of my own destiny. The second step is to realize that I do affect my destiny. The third is to seek how to choose wisely as I am confronted with alternatives.

The whole eludes me,
The part entraps me.
Or is the entrapment truly a cocoon
Protecting me, nourishing me, preparing me
Until I am ready to soar above
To see beyond the limits of my childhood place?

To venture out into the vastness of creation
Without preparation for the awesomeness, character, and challenges it presents
Is to be a fool, to endanger myself, to be prey to the unknown.

But to choose to follow my nature,
Be patient to learn before I leap,
To seek to know who I am, and what I should become
That I may be true to my best potential
And satisfy my soul:
This is to be a worshiper of the Lord,
And a servant unto Him.
Hallelujah!

Trusting God’s Hand: A Path to Healing and Strength

Rejoice in the security of My hand enclosing yours.

Meditation Thought: “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:15)

“Come, My children – take My hand in yours, and with your other hand, reach out to clasp another. I would pass on the warmth of My love and grace and power through you. Be not afraid of the hand you hold – even if it feels cold, clammy, dirty, rough. Your other hand which clasps Mine will be all the comfort you need. And as the ministering of My ways passes from Me to you to another, their hand is cleansed, relaxed, healed, made strong and sure. Sure enough one day to let go of your hand and reach directly for My hand, which became visible to them through your hand which they could see with their eyes before they could see My hand in faith.

Do not go seeking far and wide for hands to hold. Only hold My hand, look to Me, and you will realize that a hand has taken hold of your other hand. Do not strain to serve Me: only rejoice in the security of My hand enclosing yours. Let me lead you gently but firmly. The more you trust Me, the more relaxed you can be in our world together. Turn over the cares of your life to Me, for I wish to dissolve them. Sometimes they will disappear one by one – sometimes they are so entwined that the release of one will release many. But always the care comes as a potential for My blessing, if you will but trust My leading in it and through it and out of it.

Learn to reinforce your trust in Me, and you will learn how to cast your burdens away quickly, becoming stronger in faith and trust and releasing more of yourself to Christ within you with each cast.”

Finding Peace and Boldness in Faith

Experience love, give love, be more alert. Your joy is boundless, your eyes perceiving beauty everywhere, your mind connecting all that comes into it into a pattern never before even suspected.

Meditation Thought: “ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

In Christ, a new creation!
– Righteous, for your sin is forgiven and forgotten
– Bold, for fear is replaced with confidence in your Helper (who is always with you, forever)
– Content, for your longing for peace and fulfillment is satisfied
– Excited, for you know that in Christ the work of the Father is constantly being done. And done with enthusiasm, good results and often in surprising ways!
-You are experiencing love and giving love, you are more alert, your joy is boundless, your eyes perceiving beauty everywhere, your mind connecting all that comes into it into a pattern never before even suspected.
– That which is unseen becomes as that which is seen, and that which is seen becomes magnified and intensified.

Christ is beyond all of the most potent effective medicines, vitamins, beauty aids and self-help courses washing over you, pouring into you, transforming the dead entity of your self now willed to Him into the Father’s image: His precious offspring, spirit of His spirit – His paternal dream fulfilled.

Suggested prayer:
“Come, Lord Jesus, into my heart and mind, that all of my thoughts and actions are in tandem with your thoughts and actions. Amen.”