Tag: personal growth

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Bridle Your Tongue and Love Like Me

James 1:19 (VOICE) Listen, open your ears, harness your desire to speak, and don’t get worked up into a rage so easily, my brothers and sisters.

Beloved, be intentional to bridle your tongue. Resist the urge to vent your frustrations and instead cultivate peace so the frustration won’t come as easily. Like a muscle that can be trained and strengthened, you can increase your ability to hold onto your inner peace. Press into My Spirit. Allow Me to bring you shalom – the peace that wars against chaos – in every circumstance.  What you feed will grow. Will you feed the frustration or feed the peace?

Listen, beloved. Hear beyond people’s hurts and pride. Hear what is underneath them. Listen with My ears and hear with My heart. See the wounds and brokenness that cause the behavior. Be moved with compassion. Pray for them. Demonstrate My love instead of reacting to offense. Choose to love like Me, and walk in peace and unshakable joy. Continue reading “Bridle Your Tongue and Love Like Me”

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Be My Love with Skin On

Note: in scripture, things were often repeated for emphasis in the same way we bold or italicize things now. So when God chooses to repeat something, He’s saying, “This is important.” With that said, I smiled when He launched into a second day on this scripture. 🙂

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]…

Beloved, it is never worth wounding someone’s heart over your schedule, your “rights”, or your pride. No matter how pressed for time you may feel, the people I place around you are there by design. They are opportunities to be My love. The frazzled checkout clerk who has been swamped all day may desperately need your smile rather than yet another frustrated customer who is short with them.

You may never know what’s going on behind the scenes. You may never know what fruit your actions bring, but I do. I see when your moment of kindness tilts the balance in that person’s life so they choose life for one more day rather than giving up. You may not know the full impact your actions have, but that doesn’t mean your actions aren’t having impact.

So choose to kill your flesh. Cultivate patience. Respond in love even when the world would say you have a “right” to be affronted. Be My love with skin on. Bear fruit and bear it abundantly.

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A Hearing Heart of Wisdom and Humility

1 Kings 3:9 (JUB) Give, therefore, thy slave a hearing heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this thy so great a people?

Beloved, like Solomon, desire wisdom. Wisdom to know Me more and to better understand My will and My ways. Wisdom to have a hearing heart – one that knows well My voice. Wisdom to see the ploys of the enemy and be able to thwart them and (when asked) counsel others on how to do the same. Beloved, wisdom is a precious jewel, more valuable than silver and gold, seek it – seek Me.

With wisdom must come humility. Remember the Source of your wisdom and it will be easier to resist the temptation to get puffed up. In humility and wisdom, walk in My ways and share My truths. Be light and salt, by your very life challenging those around you to reject compromise and seek Me with their whole hearts. So ask Me for wisdom, beloved. It will not be denied.

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Prosper and Mature 

Psalm 1:3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].

Beloved, be firmly rooted in My Spirit. Yield to His leading and flow. The Spirit can teach you all things, He will not lead you astray. He will refresh and restore you, guide and grow you, and instruct you and give you insight. Under His tutelage, you will prosper and bear fruit, bearing it abundantly as you flourish. Yield to the Spirit, beloved, trust Our heart for you. Continue reading “Prosper and Mature “

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Be Changed in My Presence 

Matthew 27:51 (TLB) And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke,

Beloved, I removed the separations between us. I’ve granted you access and encouraged you to come boldly and expectantly. I want time with you face-to-face. I want My glory to reflect on your countenance. I want you to spend time in My presence not asking for anything or feeling the need to do anything, just simply being. Being together. Being quiet. Being one.

Come and be changed in My presence. Come and be moved. Let Me love you and teach you how to love like Me. To simply be more like Me. Holy. And hear the angels surrounding My throne crying “Holy! Holy! Holy!” Be immersed in Me. Let the atmosphere of heaven penetrate your soul. Be forever changed in My presence and made whole.

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A Slave to Bondage No More

2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMPC) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

Beloved, My Spirit brings freedom. Receiving Me is receiving My Spirit. You are a slave to bondage no more. My Spirit lives within you. The traps of the enemy cannot hold you as you surrender yourself to Me. Let My Spirit lead and guide you. Be sensitive to My flow. I will direct you, I will teach you, and I will convict you. Trust Me to lead you rightly (and trust Me to lead others rightly as they surrender to Me too).

I can open the door to your cage, but I cannot force you to fly. You must choose to fly free. I have made a way, but you must walk it out. Beloved, soar with Me. You’ve been released – the chains broken – don’t believe the enemy’s lies that you are still his hostage. The blood has paid the price, you need not try to pay it again – it is already covered – simply move in the freedom that came at so high a cost.

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Walk Uprightly

Ephesians 6:14 (AMP) So stand firm and hold your ground…having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart),

Beloved, it matters not if everyone around you compromises their integrity, you know the level to which you are called. Walk in it. Without apology or hesitation. Not because you know I AM with you and see your actions, but because you refuse to lower yourself or compromise your integrity.

Walk in uprightness. Setting the example for those around you. You won’t need to say a word, rather lead by example. Show them that walking with Me makes you different, not in a self-righteous way, but rather one of quiet humility, compassion, and righteousness.

For I AM strengthening you. What you’re called to is not impossible. And in the moments it is difficult, know that it is growing the fruit of the Spirit within you. You can do it. I AM with you and I strengthen you. Do not give the enemy a toehold. But in the moments you fall short, quickly repent and right yourself. Uprightness protects your heart, beloved, and your heart is most precious to Me. Guard it well.

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Love Like Me

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others]…

Beloved, to be like Me you must walk in love; thinking of others’ needs above your own and considering their interests and feelings. Bear with them in love. Take the high road, walking in humility even in moments when your flesh is screaming. Love.

I’m not asking you to let others use or abuse you; there are moments to stand fast, but there are moments to yield even when your flesh cries to be defensive or offended, but instead you walk like Me: in love. In understanding. In humility. I AM with you. I will strengthen you. Be known for your love.

Ephesians 4:2 (VOICE) Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love.

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Do What is Good 

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV) “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.

Beloved, I have given you the ability to choose that you might choose well. Choose things that bring life. Choose things that build up. Choose things that foster relationship with Me. Will I force you to make certain choices? No. But don’t think for a moment that I don’t have a strong opinion on what you should pick or that I am not eagerly awaiting seeing what decisions you make.

I AM highly vested in you. In the outcome of your like and walk! I love you, a desire blessing for you. It’s why so much of My word is dedicated to instructing you in right and wrong that you might make informed decisions. Choosing that which is good, perfect, and true. Choose Me and the things of Me.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

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Bear Fruit

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us]…

Beloved, dwell with Me. Let My Spirit do its work in you. A plant without water will not flourish, it will die. Allow the water of My Spirit to refresh and bring forth life in and through you. If you abide with Me, you cannot help but bear fruit. And that fruit will be abundant and visible to all, it will be sweet, and it will teach others of Me without you saying a word. You will simply reflect Me and My character.

Stay in My presence. Choose to hover there. In these periods of gestation, I AM growing beautiful things in you. Let them come to full term, let them mature. Take your time with Me. There are blessings that only come in My presence and I desire those for you greatly. Come be with Me and see what comes forth as a result.

John 15:4 (AMP) Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me.