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Put Aside Any Substitute

2 Kings 23:5 (NLT) He did away with the idolatrous priests, who had been appointed by the previous kings of Judah, for they had offered sacrifices at the pagan shrines throughout Judah and even in the vicinity of Jerusalem. They had also offered sacrifices to Baal, and to the sun, the moon, the constellations, and to all the powers of the heavens.

Beloved, refuse any substitute. I AM the only true God. I AM the Lord God your Creator, the Lord of Hosts, king of Heaven and Earth. I AM sovereign. There is none like Me. Refuse to hold anything or anyone in higher esteem, for I AM the only One worthy and the only One faithful and good.

Set aside any false gods. Pause and see with new eyes that you might see them. Step away from those who encourage other gods or who who breed falsehood. Be true, beloved, and stand in righteousness. Continue reading “Put Aside Any Substitute”

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I Receive You

Leviticus 9:24 (NLT) Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

Beloved, present yourself as a living offering. You are precious to Me. Whether you feel lovely or worthy matters not, simply offer Me you. Just as with offerings of old, I will send My fire – the fire of My Spirit – to consume the offering as a symbol of My acceptance. So know as you feel My fire, you are Mine – your life a fragrant offering before Me, pleasing and acceptable.

I will receive you, beloved. Hold nothing back. Grant to Me your whole heart. Give Me all of you, unreservedly. Refuse to allow fear of not being enough to hold you back, for I love My children, imperfections and all. You are enough when you give Me all of you. I receive you. I accept you. You are Mine. Continue reading “I Receive You”

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Recognize I AM a Gift

Psalm 37:4 (VOICE) Take great joy in the Eternal! His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires!

Behold I love to give good gifts. I love to bless My children. I delight in giving them the things their hearts long for (as long as those things won’t be harmful to them). But beloved, you must know that I won’t allow you to lift anything in your heart higher than me. I cannot help you make idols because to do so would hurt you, and I love you far too much to permit that.

Recognize that I AM a gift – My love, My presence, and relationship with Me. Cherish this gift and take delight in it (in Me). Make Me the center of your world – your deepest joy, your heart’s desire. Watch as I pour forth My blessings when you lavish your love on the Gift Giver rather than focusing on the gifts I give. Beloved, recognize Me as the greatest gift of all.

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Submit Yourself to My Loving Hands

Jeremiah 18:4 (NIV) But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Beloved, understand your role and understand Mine, then yield to them. Trust Me to know what is best, even when I seemingly break you – know that I always restore. For it is better to be a vine pruned back to the stump and regrowing in strength than to limp through life injured and weakened.

Allow My work in you. Allow Me to prune, reshape, refine. Yield to the process. Refuse the urge to accuse Me of cruelty or unkindness in the moments of hardship and trial. Trust that I AM for you and I AM good. I AM always working for your best interest and the best interest of the Kingdom. Submit yourself to My loving hands.

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Make Me Your Choice

Psalm 25:14 (VOICE) ONLY those who stand in awe of the Eternal will have intimacy with Him, and He will reveal His covenant to them.

Beloved, go deeper. Refuse to settle for a surface level relationship with Me. See Me as I AM. Stand in reverential awe. Desperately seeking to know Me. Pursue Me as a priceless jewel. Wrestle for My blessing. Refuse to give up. Be relentless. Bare yourself to Me. Yes, I AM omniscient, but choose to share all the parts of your heart with Me. Make Me your choice.

Choose Me because I chose you. Each sliver of your heart is priceless to Me. I cannot get enough. I’m wild about you! I love to share My thoughts, mysteries, and promises with those who seek Me wholeheartedly. Let that be you. Hold nothing back and refuse to be sidetracked or deterred. Be unshakable in your pursuit and outpouring of love for Me.

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Wind and Fire

Matthew 3:12 (DARBY) whose winnowing fan [is] in his hand, and he shall thoroughly purge his threshing-floor, and shall gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Beloved, the wind of My Spirit shall separate the wheat from the chaff, the holy from the unholy, the pure from the profane. So that only that which is holy may remain. I AM the Refiner – a roaring fire – cleansing and purifying.

My presence begets change. You cannot help but be moved. You cannot help but step away from that which is unholy and unrighteous, for in My presence the stark contrast between darkness and light is made blindingly clear. So allow the wind of My Spirit and the fire of My presence to do their work and bring forth purity and beauty in your heart.

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Sole Priority

2 Samuel 6:14 (CJB) Then David danced and spun around with abandon before Adonai, wearing a linen ritual vest.

Beloved, refuse to let the thoughts and opinions of others cause you to stifle your words and actions. Allow the overflow of your heart to pour forth in unabashed praise. Move past simply “working through it” to a place where those thoughts and opinions no longer matter and you’re not even aware of them anymore.

Be radical for Me. Be completely sold out for Me. Make Me the center of your world. Be abandoned in your praise and intensely persistent in your pursuit. Be relentless. Don’t hold back. Be “even more undignified than this.” Focus on pleasing Me alone. Make that your sole priority. Continue reading “Sole Priority”

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Be Known for Your Grace

1 Peter 3:9 (TLB) Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

Beloved, be known for your grace. Be known for being unoffendable. Refuse to allow your pride to be pricked, but instead seek to understand the heart motives behind careless and hurtful actions and pray for those who deliver them. You need not endure abuse, but simply remove yourself quietly rather than taking issue with your assailant. I AM the Lord and I will repay.

Be quick to forgive, leaving all to My hand of justice, for I AM the righteous judge. Beloved, bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you. Keep your heart tender and trust Me to protect and heal you. Continue reading “Be Known for Your Grace”

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Unfailing Love

John 10:11 (AMP) I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

Beloved, I love you with a sacrificial love. No cost is too great nor effort too much where you are concerned. There is no length I wouldn’t go for you (nor one I haven’t gone to already). You are Mine – My heart and the apple of My eye.

I have much patience for you, beloved. You need never fear I’ll grow tired of your shortcomings or lose patience with your hesitations, I know your heart intimately. I understand the whys behind every fear and failure, and I love you in the midst of them all. I remain steadfastly by your side. You will never wear Me out or exasperate Me. I AM with you and I AM for you. Place your hand in Mine, beloved, and simply follow My lead.

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I AM the Good Shepherd

John 10:14 (AMP) I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]

Beloved, you are My precious child. You are My very own. You are a part of Me and I know you intimately. You can rely on Me and trust Me to lead and counsel you wisely, for I AM the Good Shepherd and I care deeply for My sheep.

And My sheep know Me. They know My voice and listen (and obey) My instructions. They know My touch and follow My leadings. They choose to rest in Me – relying on Me to provide, protect, and prepare. I AM faithful and I love My little ones, not one escapes My notice. I AM good, rely on Me.