Category: SpiritFilledLiving

Turning on the Light

To the greater degree that we live out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, to that degree do we, in essence, by our choices, bathe our own selves in light.

Meditation Thought: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.” (1 John 2:9-10)

If we do the will of the Father, if we delight the Son, if we make welcome the Holy Spirit, how can we possibly be in the dark? We cannot: to the greater degree that we live out the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, to that degree do we, in essence, by our choices, bathe our own selves in light.

The light is available, the light is created to dispel darkness: but we must know where the switch is that turns it on, and we must go to turn it on once we know where it is.

Of course, we may stumble on the way, we may lose our sense of direction for a time – but if we persevere, determined to find that switch and to turn it on, we shall have light, as we were intended to have light.

Our error is often believing that we can stay where we are and the switch will be placed in our hand and turned on for us.

Our way is sometimes made easier by the faint light from others’ lights showing us the path more clearly – but in order for this to happen, we must be looking for light in them and not for darkness, for what we seek we shall find.

To Know and Make Known

If you stay close to your Guide, then you are within his protective Presence, and need not fear.

Meditation Thought: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith.” (1 Peter 5:6-9)

Only with a humble attitude are you able to learn; be grateful for what you have already learned, acknowledging that you possess the knowledge because of your Father who has shared it with you. You have not received it merely to use for yourself, but to use it to do His works – to make known His love and will to the world.

Do not worry. Only believe, only pray, only listen to the wisdom of the Word and the prompting of the Spirit, acting upon these instructions – trusting your Lord to clear the path before you, and to lead you by the hand around any obstacles.

When you see “the roaring lion” in any form, recognize him for what he is – and then use your sure defense against him: “He that is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Confront him with faith in your Guide to protect you. If you stay close to your Guide, then you are within his protective Presence, and need not fear.

A Lover, Giver, Healer

Hate flees from love.
Selfishness flees from grace.
Sin flees from mercy.
Doubt flees from faith.

Meditation Thought: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18(

When a man turns to the Lord there is freedom from doubt, from guilt, from selfish, barbaric instincts. There is the freedom to become like that which we see: The Lord. We are not bound by the restrictions of our human condition, of that which is feasible only by the efforts of men.

We behold a new vision – live by a new hope, and become a new creature: not be our own will and power, but by God’s will and power.

The glory of the Lord
Shines into our contrite hear.
Our dark intentions, our despairing
Souls become transformed:
The warmth of Love,
The light of Truth penetrate:
Healing, purifying, beautifying.

As we are changed into His likeness
We once again reflect His image,
As He made us.
The ravage of the rebellious years
Is removed – remembered no more.

As a father’s glory is enhanced
By his child’s true reflection
Of his father,
So the glory of the Lord
Is enhanced
By our reflection of Him.

We reflect Him when His Spirit
Is within us,
Giving us His qualities
In such abundance
That all alien forces take flight:
Hate flees from love.
Selfishness flees from grace.
Sin flees from mercy.
Doubt flees from faith.

His righteousness
Takes possession of us.
Not the righteousness
Of a Pharisee is this,
But the righteousness
Of a Christ:
The righteousness of
A lover, a giver, a healer.

A Green Thumb

Through Him are my talents moved from the potential of the seed through the maturing of the plant into the yielding of the fruit.

Meditation Thought: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Peter 1:2-4)

Through His promises, through His example, am I made well and whole, am I released from the weight and dark of sin and able to fly into the light of the glorious day – the revealing light that enables me to see the beauty and grandeur of the Kingdom. Through Him are my talents moved from the potential of the seed through the maturing of the plant into the yielding of the fruit.

So long as we are pure, by the power of the indwelling Word, the cleansing through prayer, and the indwelling Spirit revealing to us the divine nature through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, then we are who we were created to be. We are trusting and obedient to the Father as was Jesus, and consequently we partake of the divine nature of the natural growth of the fruits of love falling everywhere we go: of minds excited with new knowledge, of burdened hearts lifted up into joy, of the desperate making the 180 degree turn in the direction of hope. The one common denominator of all movement which pushes everything from bad to better is LOVE: unselfish, humble, trusting, determined, faithful love.

Conquer!

Persevere – take only one step at a time, I will give you courage for that.

Meditation Thought: “He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:26-28)

Persevere – take only one step at a time, I will give you courage for that. Trust Me to provide whatever you need for that one step needed now. That is all the faith you need: enough to take one step. But I will take that little faith and I will make it blossom into a miracle – your eyes will see invisible minute faith transformed into acts that will cause praise to the Father’s glory!

Consult My plan as to the direction of the step, using the tools already in your possession to determine what the plan is and where you are working in it at the moment you are in.

I tell you a mystery – the power which will be given you is nothing known in the material world, nor in the realm of the mind – but you will receive power from the Spirit. The only way to perceive the power is to receive the Spirit. And when you perceive the power, you must be faithful to the promptings of the Spirit in order that the power may flow into you, through you, and out from you. Look closely at My plan and take your step boldly, confidently, knowing that wherever you place your foot that I am your prop to keep you from falling – it matters not even if you step over a precipice – for I am not limited to firm ground. I will keep you safe wherever you are if you are going in My direction – in both senses of the word: in My instructions and in My path. You need your ‘special equipment’ to read My plan: My Word, your prayers and meditations, your loving ministries, your trust and faith – actions and the circumstances in which I place you and which I create for you.

You think this is much to ask? Then think on this: For you I suffered in every sense, for you I sacrificed in every sense, for you I humbled myself, for you I spoke, for you I brought knowledge of the Father and His love for you that you might have life and have it more abundantly and forever.

New Views; New Inspiration

Take time to be holy.

Meditation Thought: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” (Psalm 121:1)

Lift your eyes from the valley of despair and feast them upon the serenity of the hills – the stillness, the overall pattern of the whole. Lend Me your eyes that I may take them to see where you have not been able to go – let Me put new views into your eyes and return them to you to inspire your mind and your initiative. Take time to be holy – My purpose is worked through this more than in any other way. You do not see the spirit-waves of strength and force and direction which are released through this action – but nevertheless they exist, they are effective, and the are needed. That is why we have a relationship – to release these waves of My Spirit to the world.

Do not let stones I have placed for stepping become stumbling blocks.

How Things Work

The world calls this “miracle”, God calls it “standard operating procedure”.

Meditation Thought: “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)

(Message perceived to be from Jesus.)


As the root thrusts deeper in search of life-giving water, so must you thrust your life deeper into Mine. You cannot live, let alone bear delicious, outstanding fruit, if you do not have the nourishment to grow it.

You must come to know Me as if you were one of My disciples who could see Me, hear Me, touch Me. The Holy Spirit will be your sight, your hearing, your touch. As My words penetrate into you, you must be receptive to their nourishing power, using that power as I teach you through the Holy Spirit. I have promised that whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do. Believe the healing works into reality. You are My eyes, My ears, My hands to the world. Let Me activate them by turning your will, your brain and your heart to Me to activate for you. In this manner do I live in you and you live in Me, and the Father dwells in both of us. His creative power is released anew – the world calls this “miracle”, God calls it “standard operating procedure”. The process was intended to run smoothly, but through free will misused, sin clogged it. I will clean out the dirt of sin and allow the process to run smoothly again – if you will move out of the way so that I can get to the machinery of the process.

From Without Rather than Within

There is nothing to fear, except the fear of forgetting to turn to Me. And so long as you are weak, you will remember to turn to Me.

Meditation Thought: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

My grace and My power – if you go under your own power, I will not violate your choice not to yield to Me – therefore, I cannot pour My power into you unless you ask for it, unless you yield your own will to receive it. The weaker you are on your own, the more witness of My power as accomplishments are made through you.

Rejoice that you are timid and fearful, for that is what turns you to Me – and it is what will turn others to Me. If you have no dynamic power of your own, then it becomes evident that the power surging and moving and changing in your life is from without: and when results are good (measured by love engendered, My commandments fulfilled, peace and joy abounding) – then the glory comes to Me; the joy of more hearts opening to My love comes to Me, and life in the Spirit is strengthened for My believers. Stand strong – in My power. Armed with My Word, My guidance, My power, My will, nothing can prevail against you – there is nothing to fear, except the fear of forgetting to turn to Me. And so long as you are weak, you will remember to turn to Me.

The Vocabulary of Heaven

Will you put aside false pride, self-consciousness, self-interest, preoccupation with small matters, and allow me to expand your vision, your vista, your vitality?

Meditation Thought: “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” (1 Peter 3:8-9)

“You reap what you sow. This is the result of My giving you freedom of choice, that you may be truly My children, and not merely My creations.

Oh, My child: open up your spirit, your mind, your emotions, exposing them to everything to which I lead you. For I would teach you through all things: through words, through people, through circumstances – all perceived through the wisdom of the indwelling Spirit – so that what the world terms miracles, but what is natural according to My eternal will, may be accomplished.

You have been given all of the equipment needed to make a ‘heaven on earth’, to have ‘the Kingdom within’: you have been created in love, to be loved, and to give love. You have been given a measure of faith, you have been given a sound mind, you have been given a spirit which can seek My Spirit and draw it into you. You have been given a body – a marvel of intricate parts, you have been given feelings, that you may be more than a robot, you have been given a physical world to appreciate, you have been given hope, for I am your hope and have sought to tell you so.

Never will I spurn My children’s seeking of Me. How I love you! Did I not suffer in every possible way that you might have life abundantly? Did I not suffer that you might be spared?

Every thought, every word, every action that you create in the image of He who took on the form of man, but who is Spirit, is sheer power: power to move mountains, to move the hearts of men, to stir their souls – to rescue the perishing.

Learn the language which is the tongue of heaven: its vocabulary consists of words of love, of hope, of comfort, of forgiveness. Do not mix in with this heavenly language the words of the world or of your own ego – they will mar it, will grate upon My ears, your ears and the ears of the world. It is as if the world has been exposed to a beautiful concert – and then someone hits a sour note and spoils the beauty of the moment.

So stand firm in the speaking of the pure language of love, despite all of the provocations to which you are exposed.

Seek to be strong by the ingesting of My Word to strengthen your mind, the embracing of My Spirit through the invitation and climate congenial for It’s dwelling, and through constant, conscious prayer and supplication.

Conceive of all that is loving, good, righteous, desirable, and merciful – and make these elements the basis of your life on earth, and your life in the spirit.

Truly, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God – and faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.

I shall give you the desires of your heart when your heart is beating in tandem with My Spirit’s coursing through your spirit, prompting to My will, and according to My Word.

You do not comprehend at this moment all I am expressing to you: nevertheless, you must be exposed to it, that I may teach you in full knowledge and wisdom and discernment as time goes by.

Seek to learn all that you can, seek to do good – and the results will be as natural as the acorn growing into a mighty oak. Though this is a miraculous work, it is also natural and the purpose for which the acorn was created.

Seek to be aware of the seemingly unrelated parts of life, and as you observe each part, seeking to know it in full, you will also become aware of spiritual threads connecting all parts – each part affects the other: to work harmony and health to all, or to wreak havoc. I seek you to heal, to harmonize. Will you heed My call?

Will you put aside false pride, self-consciousness, self-interest, preoccupation with small matters, and allow me to expand your vision, your vista, your vitality?

I seek to lead you into beautiful maturity of spirit: will you follow Me?

I promise you peace, joy, and love: yes, there will be conflict too – but always victory, always hope in the challenge – always a further strengthening of our relationship along with course we run together.

You are close to discovering the deep meaning of the words of the saints which you have been reading, of the feelings which at times puzzle you, unformed thoughts which swirl in your mind, but have not come yet t rest in a pattern which you can understand.

Fear not, for lo, I am with you always.”

How to Change the Universe

Every thought, every action, every prayer changes the world, changes the Kingdom. You, you change the universe!

Meditation Thought: “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

You have been admonished to obey those in authority: yet there is a hierarchy of authority, and you must obey the highest in command if there is a conflict of instructions. God is the highest authority. He judges justly. Obey Him, not only obey, but seek to be recognized as His child by the diligent pursuit of imitating Him in the flesh of the man called Jesus.

  • If you concentrate your spirit, mind, body, energies on all which is consistent with God’s nature as revealed to you in various forms, you will be doing His works while at the same time releasing His power in you to transform you, through your belief in Him, to work miracles in your life. To transform you:
  • from ignorant to wise,
  • from fearful to courageous,
  • from weak to strong,
  • from sad to joyful,
  • from ineffective to effective.

And this transformation takes place quietly,

  • little by little
  • thought by thought,
  • action by action,
  • prayer by prayer.

But every thought, every action, every prayer changes the world, changes the Kingdom. You, you change the universe! Be excited about this, be pleased about this. This is the manner in which God created: it is natural, it is desirable. The changes are to be made – but the attitude you adopt in making them is the revelation of who has your allegiance. Are you humble, willing to serve, glad to forgive and love and sacrifice? Then the world, which is proud, arrogant, unforgiving, hateful and demanding will not count you one of its own. But God rejoices in you, and by your acting out of His nature in your life, bit by bit, you soften the hardness of the world – reshape a part of it – squeezing out hate with love, and the volume of worldly power is reduced a little, while the volume of spiritual power is increased a little.

You are needed, only you can reshape certain parts of the world, appropriating them for the Kingdom – and it is through your manner – guided by the Spirit – that the world desires to be reshaped, allows itself to be reshaped, seeks to be reshaped. Carry on, move forward in confidence: Confidence in Your Lord.