Conduit of Blessing

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love does not traffic in shame…

Beloved, nothing is gained by putting others down. Sarcasm and mockery at another’s expense speaks to the character of the one whose breath carries it and the one whose amusement supports it, not the one to whom it’s addressed – even when it is intended in jest. You never know what will be the “last straw” for a hurting heart, so don’t take a chance your words may be it. Refuse to indulge in careless words remembering you are held accountable for every one that leaves your mouth.

You have a choice to bless or to curse, choose to bless. Do it consistently and do it often. Be intentional to build up, see the good, speak to the potential – prophesy, beloved! Let your mouth be a conduit of blessing and your words a river of life. Let My living water flow forth from within you untainted and sweet. Be known by your delicious fruit that tastes like Me. Continue reading “Conduit of Blessing”

Take the Time to Notice

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance…

Beloved, trust Me to highlight your successes and showcase your strengths in the moments I deem right. Rather than trying to build your own esteem, focus on seeing and exposing the strengths and virtues of those around you.

Take the time to notice when others’ do good. Recognize My hand at work. Be quick to encourage and support those thoughts and deeds. Be intentional about building others up without thought of it being returned, but simply because it is a beautiful thing to do. Continue reading “Take the Time to Notice”

Position Your Heart

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) Love…refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else…

Beloved, resist the temptation to resent when someone else receives the blessing you desire, or to question Me as to My decision on when and whom to grant it. Trusting Me to know best and rejoicing with all in their seasons of blessing positions your heart to receive.

Resist the urge to feel overlooked or undervalued, beloved, for you are precious to Me. Walk in joy and gratitude. See and know that love all around you and reflect it back out to others even as you yourself have received. Continue reading “Position Your Heart”

Be My Love with Skin On

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love is gentle and consistently kind to all…

Beloved, refuse to allow pride (or any fleshly response) to bait you into responding rashly or causing hurt to another. A fool vents his emotions, and you are no fool. You are master of your emotions (for My Spirit empowers you) and have no need to thrust them on someone else for a moment’s pleasure.

Bring those feelings to Me. Bring all your hurts and frustrations, all the injustices and woundings. I AM the healer and restorer, I will tend your heart. So be intentional about reflecting Mine.

Walk in kindness and compassion. See past someone’s poor response to the heart of why they’re reacting the way they are. Are they immature? Demonstrate good behavior. Are they having a bad day? Encourage them. Are they frazzled and on edge? Seek to bring peace. Use the discernment of My Spirit, beloved, and be My love with skin on. Continue reading “Be My Love with Skin On”

Passionately Pursue

1 Corinthians 12:31 (TPT) But you should all constantly boil over with passion in seeking the higher gifts. And now I will show you a superior way to live that is beyond comparison!

Beloved, passionately pursue Me. Passionately pursue My gifts and the fruits of My Spirit. Refuse to settle for a lack luster, mediocre relationship with Me. What I have for you is rich and deep, it is powerful and sweet, it is life-changing, and it is worth fighting for – worth pursuing.

Don’t waste time or focus on being envious of others’ walks with Me because each is unique and special just as each person is unique and special. I meet each of you exactly where you need. You don’t need – nor should you want – a duplicate of what someone else has, but rather something uniquely wonderful tailor-made just for you. That is a superior way to live – it is beyond comparison.

True Love Endures

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) Love is large and incredibly patient…

Beloved, love is bigger than you know. It is able to withstand trials and the fires of disappointment. It stands fast in the face of hardship and even betrayal. Love is a choice. Love reflects My heart.

Will you choose to be like Me – love like Me – even in the face of adversity? Will you love patiently in the face of intentional wounding? Be My hands and feet. Love unconditionally. Love is an action not a feeling that is fickle and changes based on circumstance, true love endures. Continue reading “True Love Endures”

Walk in Your True Identity

1 Corinthians 13:12 (TPT) For now we see but a faint reflection of riddles and mysteries as though reflected in a mirror, but one day we will see face-to-face. My understanding is incomplete now, but one day I will understand everything, just as everything about me has been fully understood.

Beloved, I see you and know you. I have accepted you – you are My very own. I see you rightly – the true you. How I created you. Allow My vision of you to shape your own. For your own understanding is flawed and incomplete, but Mine is perfect – seeing through every intention and failing to the way you were created.

I have called you by name. Respond not just with acceptance but fervor, for I speak truth over you, beloved, and I would have you know it and allow it to transform you into that which you have been called to be. Walk in the fullness of your true identity.

You Stand with Me

1 Corinthians 16:9 (CJB) because a great and important door has opened for my work, and there are many people opposing me.

Beloved, refuse to be deterred. Stay focused on the call. It is vital so refuse to back down from that which would block your path. I AM the way-maker and I AM the key. Nothing is too hard for Me and no force in heaven or on earth can stand against Me.

Believe what I have told you. Take Me at My word. I AM not a man that I should lie or the son of man that I should repent and change My mind. I AM steadfast and true, I AM victorious and you stand with Me. Continue reading “You Stand with Me”

Your Piece in My Intentional Design

1 Corinthians 12:18 (GW) So God put each and every part of the body together as he wanted it.

Beloved, no detail escapes My notice. I AM intricate with My design. Each gifting given with intention. Each calling bestowed with purpose. What I have planned for you is not too big or too small, nor does it matter how it compares to anyone else’s. Each piece is vital. Every person important. The primary aim being each person’s heart and obedience to Me, and secondarily their love for each other.

Gifts are given for the purpose of expanding the Kingdom. Their purpose corporate not for the building up of the one who possesses it. Refuse to allow pride. Resist the temptation to judge with human eyes remembering I AM one who leaves the 99 to chase the one.

Each detail – each gift – is important because I have designed each one with a purpose. If you reach hundreds through your flesh, but miss the one I created you to reach because you judged with human eyes rather than yielding to My plan, you will not have succeeded. Be intentional about fulfilling your part of the greater plan – My plan. The full picture of the puzzle is only complete when every piece – regardless of size – has come into place.

So let go of any expectations, refuse to allow human judgments to encourage or discourage, and simply be intentional about yielding to Me and My plans. They are good. They are intentional. And you and your piece are key.

Remain Singular in Focus

1 Corinthians 12:4 (NLT) There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

Beloved, I AM the source, the giver of good gifts, and the endower of spiritual gifts. I created you for a call and with a purpose, and the plans I have for you are good plans – ones that honor Me and expand the Kingdom. Be satisfied with your piece and walk it out with excellence. Remain singular in focus: eyes on Me, heart aligned with My plans and My Kingdom.

Refuse the temptation to wish you were created or called differently. In the Kingdom, every person is cherished, every gift is vital, and each role necessary to complete that which I have planned. Refuse to judge through human eyes. Be firm in having a Kingdom mentality where the goal is simply: making Me known and expanding the Kingdom. Continue reading “Remain Singular in Focus”