Protected Shelter

The choice is yours to use the knowledge or let it lie idle.

Meditation Thought: “ Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2)

“Change your thought of the word “prayer” from being a verb “to pray” – to being a noun: being in a state of prayer – a continuous state of prayer. The atmosphere of prayer varies according to the workings in your life, but you must assure that by your awareness and your attitude that you stay within the confines of the prayer world: the prayer world is large enough to encompass all the places in heaven and in earth where you should be. If you wander outside of its confines, you lose your sense of direction, your protection, and your purpose.

Think of a mist of prayer enclosing all of the areas of your life – as a gentle rain renews the parched earth, the mist of prayer keeps your life renewed, refreshed, conscious of the Power and Love that have entered your life through your belief in that Power and Love. The scriptures in your mind are much of the reality of the mist of prayer; worship of any form, a grateful heart, a joy in seeing the works of the Kingdom being executed on earth – all these are as atoms of the composition of the prayer mist. The more densely these atoms are concentrated in your life-atmosphere, the more concentration you have of the Kingdom on earth. Just as your home protects you when you are inside it from the storm without, so the atmosphere of prayer surrounding you protects you from evil from without. You must be enclosed in the house before it provides you any shelter – you must place yourself in the prayer atmosphere before it provides your shelter. Enter into your shelter of prayer, and keep it closed about you. You know how to do this by the instructions given to you through My Word and My Ways: the choice is yours to use the knowledge or let it lie idle.

Spirit Banking

The scriptures in your mind are your deposit in the bank, and your prayer is the check that releases them for your use when they are needed.

Meditation Thought: “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5:39)

“Turn the other cheek in an act of love, compassion, understanding, a sweetness of spirit – of Spirit, a compliance with heavenly laws rather than “human nature”. Thus you are staying in the Spirit and not being of the world. Your Spirit-strength will not go unnoticed; an act which could have come and gone without note, or have exploded into a quarrel, will thus be turned into a victory: for God, for you, for the striker as he/she sees a new way.

Pray first, act later: even in the situations where action is quickly required, a ‘flash prayer’ is possible and required. This releases power from heaven, and power in you, rightly directed and effective. The principles are consistent in every situation, but you must know how to operate them appropriately. The scriptures in your mind are your deposit in the bank, and your prayer is the check that releases them for your use when they are needed. Keep your account well deposited so that you can pray constantly and have ample scriptures to supply every need.

The words of my Kingdom are foreign to you now, but the longer you reside in the Kingdom in your mind and in your spirit, the more competent you will become in understanding and using the language. Only by trying to use it can you become proficient in it. Knowing the language will facilitate communication but the sign language of love can always be used, even before the language is learned. We have come full circle now – turning the other cheek is an act of love and not an act of hate, which the world might expect as a reaction to being struck. Your nature is to become 100% love so that whenever it is touched in any way – whether by a loving expression, or a hateful expression, the only response that is capable of emerging is a loving response: an understanding, compassionate, truth-knowing, God-oriented and God-directed response.”

Hands On

“The mighty hand of God” may be used in many ways to bring us to that glorious moment.

Meditation Thought: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” (1 Peter 5:6)

We must come as a ignorant pupil, willing to be taught by our Teacher. We must trust Him, even when we chafe at discipline – for it is the wisdom and knowledge that He will teach us that will bring us to His exalting of us after we have proved to be His apt pupils. “The mighty hand of God” may be used in many ways to bring us to that glorious moment of exaltation:
-It may comfort us – or chasten us
-It may pour riches into our hands – or it may receive riches from our hands
-It may beckon us to a certain place – or be raised in warning not to take a particular path.
– It may point out words and ways of wisdom, and be placed upon us as a gesture of love and assurance.

And, when the lessons are finished, His hand reaches out to draw us to Him, to be His companion, His family member come home to stay, rather than being just a pupil – no matter how beloved a pupil. We are exalted because we are in His Presence in a new and glorious way. The exaltation is actually a mutual exultation that we recognized His love, we obeyed Him out of love, and now our mutual love has drawn us together in a fulfillment of purpose for God and for ourselves. God’s glory reign forever and ever!

Paths of Discovery

When you find yourself chopping at obstacles in your path, frustrated, tired and discouraged – stop!

Meditation Thought: “See, I am doing a new thing!… I am making a way in the wilderness.” (Isaiah 43:19)

“Give me your attention… we are starting on an adventure together. Enjoy the thrill, the excitement, the anticipation of discovery. The way will be cleared before you, for I prepare it before asking you to go that way. You must look for the path I have cleared for you – otherwise you will have to fight the wilderness by yourself – finding it very difficult to penetrate. When you find yourself chopping at obstacles in your path, frustrated, tired and discouraged – stop! Look at where you are, and look at where I am – are you following me? Are you taking the path which I have cleared for you? The jungle of circumstances holds no peril for you, no difficulty, if you put your efforts into finding my path instead of into hacking a path for yourself. Direct your efforts where the results will be fruitful and satisfying, not frustrating.”

Power Source

We must be properly connected to our Source of Power in order for there to be light.

Meditation Thought: “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

The lamp cannot burn and give light without a power source – whether it is oil, electricity, battery. So, too, we must be properly connected to our Source of Power in order for there to be light. Without it, our purpose is never fulfilled. We may be an ornament without it – but never become the comfort, the guide, the help that we should be to the world. The more Power we allow to flow through us, the more light we shed – and the more helpful we will be.

Believernado

At the end of the day, blessings will abound wherever my path has led.

Meditation Thought: “…no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)

The power of God working in and through us can be compared to the action of a tornado – except that everywhere we move with God’s power leaves a path of good – of joy, of gratitude. We are the tip of the funnel, moving along the earth – but the power of God is the force which changes the landscape, the lives which we touch. Where a tornado is a destructive force, God’s “Believernado” is a healing force, a reconciling force.

Not until the Holy Spirit releases His power within us can we have the force of a tornado – until that time, we can lead good, moral lives – but it is the conviction and power of the Spirit that moves us with such force that the paths where we move are changed so much that they are bound to be noticed and so bring others to seek the Force that produced such results.

Prayer of Response:
“Lord, I feel positive and eager to go out today and be a “believernado”, leaving a path of love, concern, help and encouragement wherever I go. I ask that Your wisdom guide me, and Your love work through me, so that at the end of the day, blessings will abound wherever my path has led.
Amen

Step One

We need to study the principles and pray for enlightenment so that we are acting with knowledge and with the will of God – which ensures that “all is possible”.

Meditation Thought: “All things are possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

The first step to any accomplishment is to believe that it is possible so that we will make the effort to succeed in it: we need to learn all we can about the situation, how to solve the problems and what cause will have what effect. When we learn the principles of life as set out by our Creator, we can apply them to each situation and know that they will work. But if we are ignorant of even one factor, the results can be vastly different.

We need to study the principles and pray for enlightenment so that we are acting with knowledge and with the will of God – which ensures that “all is possible”.

Jesus Cares for Me

I have been transported from a world to a Kingdom, never moving, but the scene changes because the knowledge comes:
Jesus cares.

Do I feel lonely – deserted?
Jesus cares.
Do I need help?
Jesus cares.
Do I need love?
Jesus cares.
Do I need strength?
Jesus cares.
Do I need guidance?
Jesus cares.
I wander lost and lonely in a void –
Jesus cares…
And the void blossoms into a garden of beauty, pleasing all my sensed, taking me from delight to delight – I have been transported from a world to a Kingdom, never moving, but the scene changes because the knowledge comes:
Jesus cares.

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.

Daylight After the Darkness of Night

A poem of hope.

Meditation Thought: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.  Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:17-20)

Know ye not
That I am the
Way, the Truth, the Life?
Forbid me not:
Open the door of your heart
That I may enter in.
A more welcome guest
You could not entertain.
For I come not to take,
But to give:
I am your daylight after the darkness of the night.
I give you joy after tears.
I give you victory from defeat.
I give you a depth of knowledge
That confounds the wise.
I give you love that never ends
And life that is ever sweet.
The glory of God
Shall surround you:
It is without, waiting to pour in
Through the opening of the door of your heart unto me.