Category: wisdom

The Secret of Joy and Revitalization

Emerge as one wise in the Word and joyous in the Spirit.

Meditation Thought: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Note: Marie perceived this message as being for her personally (see About This Blog) – however, there is such wisdom here – a road map even –  that I believe we can all apply the lessons. (The term handmaid refers to a close, personal servant.)

“According to My Word so shall it be to you. How you love My Word! That is because all you have experienced as you have tested it has proved it true. And so you know what is expected of you – you know what is needed to give you peace and joy. You know now what you want to learn, and so shall you learn if you continue in your “school of prayer”, in the deep intention of your heart, in your determination to delve more deeply into the joys of service and the revitalizing effect they have on you.

The Word shall start in your mind, but shall travel into every part of you: spirit, body, emotions – transforming, re-designing; a “new birth” – as if you shed the old ignorant, sin-ridden mind and attitude and body, and emerge “spanking-new” as one wise in the Word and joyous in the Spirit. Always will you need to learn and grow and change: but you will have a speeded-up visibility of results of obeying My Word and My Spirit. Keep your will firm to be my handmaid, for it is in this context that you will find fulfillment of all that pleases you.”

Peaceably Dramatic

God will move our efforts from ineffective to dramatic if we will hear Him and trust Him.

Meditation Thought: “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:17-18)

Wisdom “from above” is superior to wisdom “from below” – and can be quite different, for wisdom from above is the all-encompassing knowledge of God the creator being expressed, and that of “below” variety is short-sighted, selfish and limited in scope.
Though “peaceable, gentle” wisdom may at first appear to be less effective than a dynamic “wisdom”, in the end result if is far better for all concerned, for it is consistent with the Creator’s plan, and the Creator’s Way.
Only God’s wisdom works good out of all circumstances. We punish ourselves if our attempt to live by any wisdom other than the wisdom of God. He demonstrated His wisdom in Jesus – peaceable, gently – and for a while it appeared to be ineffective – but the final outcome was the most dramatic event in history.
God will move our efforts from ineffective to dramatic if we will hear Him, trust Him – all things done peaceably and gently: fulfilling God’s “plans for welfare and not for evil.”

Faith and Wisdom Developed

Both wisdom and faith are developed, not given as gifts full-blown and complete with no effort put forth by the recipient.

Meditation Thought: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Let steadfastness have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:2-7)

Both wisdom and faith are developed, not given as gifts full-blown and complete with no effort put forth by the recipient.

To develop a steadfast faith is the first step in being able to develop wisdom, for you must “ask in faith”in order to receive wisdom. That faith is developed through “testing” – as you meet challenges, pray, believe – and observe results, you develop a “steadfast” faith which enables you to ask in faith for wisdom. Your trials here bring to your attention your dire need for wisdom. When you combine steadfast faith in My desire to impart wisdom to you and your desire to receive it, then it is possible for wisdom to “make you perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” My Holy Spirit as motivator and guide of your thoughts, your words and your deeds imparts wisdom to you.

Experiment by Experiment

Faith does not burst full-blown just because we decide we want to believe the Word and follow the Way.

Meditation Thought: “ For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:18)

To really understand how anyone else feels in a situation, we must have had a similar experience. Thus Christ – God Himself – put himself deliberately in a situation which would identify himself completely with those He desired to help. But in doing this, He not only was totally assured of knowing completely how His beloved felt, but He also assured that they know He understands, through actual experience, how they feel. It is this knowledge that opens a heart and a mind to receive His advice, and to be willing to do as He suggests.

How do we, who are not with Him as He was in the flesh, come to know what He advises, and how to we actually do what He suggests?

As one who is blind develops the other senses to a higher degree, we must develop our spiritual sense to a greater degree, so that we may perceive Him – and do by His help, as He suggests.

The Word is a vital aid in developing our spiritual sense. Practicing doing what the Word suggests helps. Prayer and meditation help. But all of these hinge on the development of faith. Faith does not burst full-blown just because we decide we want to believe the Word and follow the Way.

We must, experiment by experiment find the paths which lead us to greater faith – greater confidence that God is who He reveals Himself to be in Christ: loving, kind and concerned – and we must believe that He does desire to provide us a more abundant life – a life that focuses our attention so raptly on Him that we start to automatically imitate Him – in loving, in kindness, and in concern.

We will have good experiments and bad ones – but as long as we keep trying to develop our spiritual sense we will also develop more faith in the one promise which is always true – that God is, God is who He expresses as the life of Christ, and we are His beloved offspring – a part of all He created, and thus dear to Him.

Power Released

Do not thwart the power of the Spirit by blocking it with guilt, unbelief, laziness or apathy.

Meditation Thought: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.'” (Isaiah 56:1)

“As a baby must grow and mature in order to comprehend who he is as a person, and who his parents are as his nurturers, so must a believer grow and mature to know who he is as an offspring of My Spirit, and who I am as the nurturer of his being.

Babies are inclined to get into all kinds of predicaments as they search for knowledge of the world and of themselves. Only the devotion of the parent keeps them from harm – or rescues them from their position of danger.

As the child grows, the more he is able to comprehend the love and devotion of the parent, the more he can understand the parent’s actions – even the actions which are not to his liking, such as denial of some of the child’s desires and discipline for wrong-doing, then the more he can accept these with calmness and a lack of rebellion. In understanding and cooperating with the parent, the child creates a climate – a relationship – which enhances his maturity and furthers his growth into the character that is pleasing to both the parent and himself. With such a character, providing the parent is wise and knowledgeable, the child has what he needs to cope with all conditions he will meet in his life.

Be a perceptive believer – a perceptive child of Mine. I will teach you the wisdom and knowledge which will enable you to cope with all conditions you will meet. I will not do this all ahead of time, however. You must trust me to know what to reveal to you before you have need for it and what to reveal in the urgency of the moment.

You can remove fear and doubt from your life by trusting me, by believing in Me and believing the communications which I give you. If you will start to base all of your decisions on the premise that I am your loving Father, actively guiding you into maturity and growth which will move you closer and closer to developing character which is like My character, you will release the power of the Spirit in your life as I have intended, and as Jesus demonstrated.

Truly accept My forgiveness of all that you have done which was not perfect in your sight or Mine – as you forgive your children. Do not thwart the power of the Spirit by blocking it with guilt, unbelief, laziness or apathy.

Only as you believe in me, only as you trust me, only as you obey me, will you be free from fear and doubt, and find peace and fulfillment – wherever you are, whatever the circumstances may be, and whatever you are called upon to do.”

Education for All

If you are conscious that at all times you are being taught, and that the school is tailored to your particular needs of the moment, you can have peace and confidence.

Meditation Thought: “I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me.” (John 8:28)

This moment is the classroom. This circumstance is the curriculum. The Word is the textbook. My Spirit is the Instructor.

You are in a school which is not limited, but teaches all subjects, and will keep you as a student that you may ever learn and grow in wisdom and knowledge in understanding and especially in the perception of the spiritual dimension and its relationship to all other dimensions.

Your faith is the tuition you pay, your will is the transportation to the school.

If you are conscious that at all times you are being taught, and that the school is tailored to your particular needs of the moment, you can have peace and confidence.

Think of your Teacher as using three methods of helping you:
– The Father-Method imparts knowledge by revelation,
– the Jesus-Method imparts knowledge by example,
– the Holy Spirit-Method imparts knowledge by taking you and guiding you personally – as a teacher might put a hand over a student’s hand to guide it in the task.

Think Lovely

To think on that which is lovely is to produce that which is lovely.

Meditation Thought: “Whatsoever things are lovely… think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

The seen reflects the unseen. The body reflects the mind. Actions reflect the will. You can control your will: will to reflect the image of God to the best of your ability at any given moment. The most effective way of perceiving God’s images in order that you may reflect them is to observe the evidence of Himself in the world: that which is lovely – ‘love-ly’, pertaining to love; not just beautiful in an aesthetic way, but reflecting the qualities of love: willing to think of others before self, considerate, orderly and not chaotic, effective in adapting to other’s personalities and needs.

To think on that which is lovely is to produce that which is lovely: both in that which is observed and in the observer.

Do not concentrate on a flaw in either another person, an object, or yourself – concentrate on all that is pleasing according to God’s definition of pleasing; this definition is clear as revealed by Christ. Delight in the Lord and all created by Him, and the qualities of His nature revealed in the Word and in the Man! This is to ‘think on lovely things’!

Birth of the Spirit

For the Spirit is Love, Wisdom, Kindness, Grace, Forgiveness, Righteousness and Glory: the Kingdom within.

Meditation Thought: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit…the Son of Man [must] be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:6-8, 14b-15)

Like begets like: your birth in the Spirit is conceived when you choose by faith to accept the Spirit as real and desirable to live in you and guide you.

No one sees, or hears, the birth of the Spirit within you – nevertheless all can see the results of that birth. And as the Spirit grows within you, so even more clearly are the results seen: there is a marked change for the better in temperament, in personality, in emotions, in behavior, in attitude, in the physical areas: no part is left untouched by the Spirit, and no part is left unenhanced by the Spirit. For the Spirit is Love, Wisdom, Kindness, Grace, Forgiveness, Righteousness and Glory: the Kingdom within.

The very existence of the Kingdom so close to the world makes a difference in the world.

Wise and Gracious: a Guide

Through my penetrating Spirit you shall bring delight, joy, hope, strength, determination of purpose.

Meditation Thought: “ Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5-6)

Conduct yourself according to My Word and you shall conduct yourself wisely. Speak My Word and you shall speak graciously. You cannot use My Word as your guide if you do not know My Word so thoroughly that you are able to understand it and to use it.

Saturate your mind and your heart with My Word, for as the Word penetrates into your very being, it transforms you through the power of the indwelling Spirit.

The truth of My Spirit – the power of My Spirit – the grace of My Spirit – the forgiving nature of My Spirit: the Love of My Spirit – shall be as the most delicate, enhancing flavoring to be savored by both you and those who know you.

Through my penetrating Spirit you shall bring delight, joy, hope, strength, determination of purpose.

Heavenly Wisdom

We learn patience, and trust, as the heavenly wisdom does its work of oozing into the situation.

Meditation Thought: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:17-18) Also pertinent is “By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)

Qualities of heavenly wisdom:
1. Meekness
2. Pure
3. Peaceable
4. Gentle
5. Open to Reason
6. Full of Mercy
7. Full of good fruits
8. Without uncertainty
9. Without Insincerity

The wisdom that is earthly is:
– bitter jealousy
– selfish ambition
– unspiritual
– devilish
– false to the truth. (See James 3:14-15)

Look at the qualities of heavenly wisdom – they are almost all foreign to our quick reactions when we experience attack, or when we perceive what we believe is foolish – unless we have come to know and to trust God as His principles are revealed. If we walk in the flesh, we use worldly wisdom, and are confused when the results are frustrating. It is a strengthening experience to set aside our human emotions of annoyance and desire for revenge, and to act in heavenly wisdom – for the results are not immediate, at least usually.

We learn patience, and trust, as the heavenly wisdom does its work of oozing into the situation, of gradually – by a replacement process – changing the situation and the results of it into something positive, something good for all, whether or not it is perceived as good by the participants – for to those who love God and believe him and act on that belief, every situation will, by prayer, and by “heavenly wisdom” action, be changed to be good for His believers. With God there is no defeat – but His respect for free will is so great that often His wisdom is seen by us as more of the “turtle” speed than the “hare” speed; nevertheless the result is the winning of the race.

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