Look to Your Heart

Disorganization in the form of a messy office or a cluttered bedroom does not equate with disorganization in the spiritual life. Do not judge yourself by outward signs, but by your inward commitment to obedience, praise, worship, prayer and intercession for the saints. In other words, look first to the state of your heart, and address the state of your kitchen cupboards only when the heart has been correctly aligned with Jesus. Remember that Mary was rewarded and Martha chastised. Quit condemning yourself for things over which the Lord does not chastise you. Disorganization is not a sin. Do not disengage from pure focus on Jesus in order to be more organized. Do not let go the spiritual in order to chase after outward signs of material control. The Lord's foolish children always want to attempt to control the outer environment, perpetuating the faulty belief that the outer life accurately mirrors the inward state. The desire to impress other human beings does not spring from a pure heart.

Listen

Listening to the Lord is not a task that can be completed. The Lord is never done speaking. Do not finish with listening.

Scripture: "Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" (Mark 9:7).

On This Mountain

You have learned that your Lord is the God of the valley. Through all the years of travail He has been at your side. But now He is saying, "I am the Lord of the mountain as well. You've trusted me in the valley. Now walk with me for awhile on this mountain."

Scripture: "In that day they will say, 'Surely this is our God; we trusted in him and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.' The hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain..." Isaiah 25:9-10

Come to the Waters

Child, you spend so much time pouring the water and preparing to bathe that you sometimes lack time to actually step into the water! No preparation is needed to bathe in the waters of God's grace. You can come as you are, trusting that He has prepared the way for you. Plunge right in!

Scripture: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters..." (Isaiah 55:1).

Humility

Humility is the ability to take a blow without retaliating. Always bring your hurt heart to the Lord first. In the rare instances when you need to speak immediately, the Holy Spirit will be your defense.

God's purposes will be fulfilled with or without your help. He is the Lord! No weapon forged against you will prevail, but if you lift your hand against a fellow Christian you will not prevail. Disputes between Christians are unique; you are not to take up arms against one another. It is a travesty to God's Name for His children to cause one another harm.

Do not be surprised when God does His greatest works through events, circumstances, and people who do not appear to be perfect. It is in imperfection that the Lord's perfection shines brightest.


Scripture: "When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly" (1 Peter 2:23).

Never Again

Across the stresses that you carry,
Over the disorder in your life;
The strong support beneath foundations that seem ready to crumble,
The Lord comes.
He is the Lord;
He is with you.

He flows with healing wind through the voices from your past,
The voices that caused you harm,
The voices that accused you and labeled you “inadequate.”

He is the voice for those who have no voice.
He was your defender when you could not defend yourself.

He has given you a voice.
He has lent you His authority.
Use this gift for His glory,

Speak with His voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

He is the Lord, He is God; Holy is His Name.

Never again will you be downtrodden.
Never again will your tender heart be mishandled.
Never again will ignorance or lust wage an attack upon your unprotected places,
Because there are no unprotected places.

You are no longer vulnerable to this sort of harm.

If evil were to come against you, the sortie would end with the enemy slinking away, defeated.

No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. (See Isaiah 54:17)

Speak with His voice for those who are tender—speak! The Lord is with you.

Scripture: The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

Rest

Dear One, you do not have to chase after blessings the Lord has promised. You are like an anxious child waiting for a flower to bloom. The petals are unfurling and do not need your “hurry-up” help. You can’t have an effect either for good or for harm. Quit struggling to move what you are not able to move, and stop fearing that you are going to inadvertently cause circumstances to go awry. Rest in the Lord.

Jesus slept in the boat as the storm approached; and you can rest now. Your storm is not a storm at all, but is rather an downpour of blessing. It will be somewhat like sitting in a shower of beautiful fireworks, but instead of the sharp prick of burning sparks there will be blessings; instead of darkness, beauty of light. You don’t have to appropriate these blessings for yourself, they will come to you. Nothing is required but that you enjoy the display with thanksgiving and praise.