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.

Understanding God’s Affection

It is not the earthly ‘king’ who rules my destiny, but my beloved heavenly “Daddy”.

Meditation Thought: “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?…  I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:14, 16)

A response to God’s call to be brave:

“Oh, Lord; Father, “Daddy”. I know now why Jesus said “Abba” – “Daddy”. It is a term that defines our relationship more accurately than the term “Father”. “Daddy” connotes deep affection, sweet, happy communion, a relationship in which confidences are shared and enjoyed.

This is what I see more clearly now that You desire – and it is what I have been unknowingly longing for, even searching for – almost panicking for. Now I understand that, no matter what happens, you will assure that I will be all right, wherever I am, whatever form I am in. To the extent that I follow Your suggestions, to that extent will the heavens open up their glories, and miracles of reconciling love appear.

You aren’t so concerned that I choose to be brave so that your purposes may be fulfilled (for you can always do this through others), but You delight in my joy at success in being brave, at my realization of Your power and of our sweet communion.

You want me to say: “if I perish, I perish”, not out of disgusted resignation, or fear of guilty conscience if I refuse to approach the king, but in the knowledge of, and awareness of, the high sense of purpose – a grandeur of being an important part of destiny – of being a true, competent, loyal representation of Your Kingdom, of Your people as I approach the king of this world, whoever that “king” is in the circumstances (the kingdom) of the moment.

May I be content with the verdict of the ‘king’, for it is not the king who rules my destiny, but my beloved “Daddy”.

Finding Your Haven

Listen to yourself. Watch yourself. Would your words appear logical if they were reported in the New Testament as having spoken by Christ? Would your actions appear to be appropriate if reported as His actions by the gospel writers?

Meditation Thought: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:2-3)

Your mind, your will, your personality: all transformed by Christ through the Spirit whenever you are thinking on ‘things above’. ‘Things above’ are the eternal values, the ‘treasures in heaven’. To concentrate on these is to change your words and actions at the worldly level, through your mind projecting into words and actions – Christ’s words and Christ’s actions.

Listen to yourself. Watch yourself. Would your words appear logical if they were reported in the New Testament as having spoken by Christ? Would your actions appear to be appropriate if reported as His actions by the gospel writers?

You know Christ’s words. You know Christ’s actions. People he knew were no different than people you know. Despite the years since Christ walked the earth, it is possible to follow Him as a contemporary, as far as the problems posed, and the actions and reactions possible. Only the names have changed!

How did Christ interact with his friends, his enemies? His mind was on things ‘above’ – He prayed to His father seeking His Father’s will – and then He spoke and acted.

When your mind is ‘hidden with Christ in God’, in meditation and prayer, then shall your words and deeds be the Son’s and the Father’s for your will has died to be raised up and transformed by the will of the Son which was totally yielded to the will of the Father.

Jesus left his imprint for you to follow. As you follow that imprint, as a child imitates, you reproduce His imprint on things below. You feed the hungry, heal the sick, forgive, don’t judge, minister, clothe the naked, encourage the downhearted. In other words – you love! You give your ‘life’ (selfish desires) to be killed for others, that they might come to find your ‘hiding place’. You – and they – envisioned it as a grave. But your hiding place is not a grave; it is a haven.

Wherever God is, wherever Christ is, that place is a ‘haven’ – a ‘heaven’ – a safe place and a glorious place.

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)

Finding Joy

My emotions, and my circumstances, are not the whole of my life – they are only as great a part as I permit them to be.

Meditation Thought: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” (Psalm 16:11)

I know the ways of life. I will be full of joy with God’s presence. His presence is always with me. I am not always full of joy – but the hope that sustains me is the knowledge that I will be full of joy. In the meantime, I can remember the times I was full of joy and I can anticipate the times when I will be full of joy again.

My emotions, and my circumstances, are not the whole of my life – they are only as great a part as I permit them to be.

“The Lord is the strength of my life”: to the extent that I base every decision, every action, and every reaction upon this conviction, to this extent do I live in the kingdom.

Good Gifts Specifically for You

Do not be impatient, my beloved child!

Meditation Thought: “Which of you, if your son or daughter asks for bread, will give them a stone?” (Matthew 7:9)

No, of course you will not give them a stone. But at times the bread is not quite finished baking at the time the child asks for it.

Do not be impatient, my beloved child! You may have a few hunger pangs before the bread is placed before you, but it shall come long before you would have a problem with lack of nutrition or starvation.

Trust your Father. Go on with the task which is your occupation as you wait for the appearance of the bread. Not only will the waiting time be less bothersome to you, but you will accomplish much while you are waiting.

Exchange Your Crown: Finding True Freedom in Faith

You cannot wear two crowns at the same time. Exchange the old for the new. Take care of what thoughts, words and deeds proceed from you, for they shall return, essentially of the same character.

Meditation Thought: “They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.'” (Revelation 4:10-11)

“Cast your crown before Me. I have given you the crown of your freedom of will. You are not compelled to hold it out as an offering to Me, who first gave it to you. But if you find the courage and the desire to hand it back to Me, you will receive far better than the crown of free will. You will have the crown of My will shining upon you. It brings beauty and grace, love and truth, all that you long for. But you cannot wear two crowns at the same time.

Exchange the old for the new.
Exchange the crown of the world for the crown of the kingdom.
Exchange the focus of your life from yourself to Me.
We are bound together by our relationship.
We are bound together in our purpose.

Take care of what thoughts, words and deeds proceed from you, for they shall return – added to, altered, enlarged – but essentially of the same character.

A Journey of Faith

Only one think is required of you:
The placing of your hand in Mine,
Signifying your willingness to go.

I hear your soft, low moan, my Child,
As the struggle begins anew.
Fear not, fear not!
Imagine not nightmarish things,
For not such is the plan.
Only for a little while,
A focusing upon
A new exercise in faith:
A further revelation of what lies beyond.
It is good.
The journey you started toward the Kingdom
Shall be completed.
But it must be taken step by step.
I shall be your guide, your aid.
Trust Me. Hold to Me.
Move with Me.
As earthly terrain is varied,
And the traveler adapts,
So is the way to the kingdom.
I shall see to your proper equipment.
I shall see to your building of strength.
I shall see to the best itinerary.
Only one think is required of you:
The placing of your hand in Mine,
Signifying your willingness to go.