Tag: chastening

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A True Reflection of Me

Matthew 5:14 (TPT) Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop?

Beloved, I’ve created you to be seen. I’ve created you to have impact. Just as a light on a hill can be seen for miles, you have no idea the extent of your influence nor will you on this side of heaven.

But beloved, let that also be a word of caution to be sure your light is pure – a true reflection of Me. Refuse to be concerned with anyone’s reaction to your light, instead choosing to focus on the Source, and deeply drawing from Me.

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Embrace Trials

Isaiah 43:2 (TLB) When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.

Beloved, embrace the trials you encounter, knowing I have allowed them for your good. Just as building muscle in weight training requires repetition and increased opposition (weight), repeated trials give opportunity for you to grow strong and build your faith.

The question becomes will you embrace the growing and refining process with joy? Or will you complain throughout the process? Be aware that having joy in the midst is part of what successful maturation looks like. So choose wisely and choose well.

Embrace trials for the character building opportunities they are. Trust that I will never give you more than you can handle with Me at your side. Let your light shine and your character be matured. Lead by example, and demonstrate your trust in Me as you yield to the development plan I set before you by walking it out with joy.

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Conduit of Love

Matthew 5:43-48 (TPT) …What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable? Don’t even the tax collectors do that?…

Beloved, it isn’t enough to simply love those who love you (although you should do that too, and do so without reserve). Love like Mine is sacrificial. It costs you something. If you would be like Me, your love must be the same.

So beloved, love the unlovable. Love those who are hurting and lost. Love those who are angry and lashing out. Love deeply and as if you’ll never get hurt. Love because you have been loved even when you were hurt, angry, and unlovable you were loved by Me. Be a conduit of love, for love changes everything. Continue reading “Conduit of Love”

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El Gibhor (Mighty God)

Jeremiah 32:18 (NKJV) ‘[You] show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them–the Great, the Mighty God, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts.

I AM El Gibhor, the Mighty God. I AM righteous and powerful, merciful and perfect in my judgment. Nothing is too great for Me. I AM the Lord of hosts with legions of angels at My command, is anything beyond My reach?

Know Who it is you serve. Understand the God you have chosen. I AM the great I AM – beyond your full comprehension – so resist the temptation to try to fit Me into your understanding rather than stretching your understanding to know Me.

I cannot be manipulated or controlled, but I love you and I AM good. Yield yourself to Me, your trust is well-placed here. Partner with Me and together we will move mountains.

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The Gift of Love

John 15:13 (KJV) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Beloved, love as I have loved – withholding nothing, without condition or exception. For this type of love changes things, it breaks through the strongest of fortresses, it permeates through the most steadfast defenses.

Even knowing that to be true, don’t love needing or expecting a response, love for the sake of Love. Love because giving the gift of love is its own reward. Love because to do so makes you more like Me. Continue reading “The Gift of Love”

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Be Mindful What Your Actions Communicate

Numbers 20:12 (AMP) But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Beloved, it is not enough to say you trust Me. When you insist you understand each thing I ask of you, you demonstrate your lack of trust. When you do things how we’ve done before rather than how I’ve instructed for this time, you show a lack of trust. And when you cherry pick which of My instructions you will adhere to, you communicate loudly that you trust yourself more and place your own judgment above My own. Conditional trust is not trust.

Beloved, check your actions to be certain they align with what you desire to communicate. Because habitually choosing your own judgment over Mine not only tells Me you don’t trust Me (as well as communicating that clearly to those around you), but it also demonstrates that you do not love Me as you say you do. Love trusts. Love obeys. Love listens.

So be mindful what you’re actions are communicating, be certain they align with what you’re hoping to express. And in the moments they fall short, repent and adjust your behavior accordingly. Give true love to Me remembering I first loved you. Continue reading “Be Mindful What Your Actions Communicate”

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Love Without Restraint

Proverbs 6:16-19 (VOICE) Take note, there are six things the Eternal hates; no, make it seven He abhors: …A heart that conceives evil plans…

Beloved, align your heart and your intentions with good. Refuse to be tempted to wish for evil to befall on anyone and instead pray for blessings and My presence in their lives. If you obey My word by praying for those who hurt you and spitefully use you, would you be double-minded and moments later be hoping for evil retribution to fall? Of course not.

Choose to trust Me wholeheartedly, knowing My judgment is righteous. Trust Me to know how to handle others and instead focus on cultivating a good and loving heart that aligns with Mine. Focus on that which is good, perfect, and true, and love without restraint.

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Love Without Reserve

Matthew 5:43-48 (TPT) …do something wonderful for the one who hates you, and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them. For that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly Father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil…

Beloved, your actions speak clearly whether you know Me or not, so consider what you’re communicating with each move and decision. Would you choose to reflect Me? Love unconditionally. Bestow mercy and extend grace. Reflect My heart.

Refuse to love only the easily loveable, but rather allow your love to be tested by loving those who resist it or who operate in hate. Choose to respond differently. Allow humility to be cultivated in your heart. Lay down your pride and offer someone what reflects My heart rather than what their actions call for. Love without restraint. Love without reserve. Love. Continue reading “Love Without Reserve”

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Obedience: a Sweet Act of Worship

1 Samuel 15:22-23 (VOICE) …Be certain of this: that obedience is better than sacrifice…

Beloved, yielding to My voice is one of the sweetest acts of worship you can bring. It is an aroma so pleasing before Me. It is a wordless declaration that you trust Me and that I AM a worthy God. No form of sacrifice outweighs the gift of your obedience.

Partial obedience is still disobedience. It is a sign you trust your own judgment and agenda above My own. If you truly trust Me, you will obey Me. Even your need to understand is based in a desire to judge My judgment.

Release your need to understand. Release your need to determine if you agree with My instructions or requests, and simply yield. Yield out of love. Yield out of respect. Yield to give honor. Yield to bring glory. Part of “giving your life to Me” is yielding to Me, so release any need to judge or control and simply trust and obey. Continue reading “Obedience: a Sweet Act of Worship”

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Unshakable

Nehemiah 8:10 (GW) …Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the Lord is your strength.

Beloved, when you find your joy in Me, it is unshakable. I AM the same yesterday, today, and forever, so when you root yourself in Me, you have a foundation that is solid. It cannot be moved by outside forces. When your joy is in Me, it cannot be stolen. There is strength in that foundation.

As trials in life come – and they surely will – they cannot steal your joy because it is found in Me. Draw strength from that. The winds and waves may come, but your roots are in solid ground. Draw strength from Me. I AM unchanging and unwavering. I AM the one that holds you as priceless and loves you beyond measure. Be rooted in that love.

But beloved be cautioned, you can choose to release your joy. It cannot be taken from you, but you can give it up. So refuse the temptation to give in. The enemy will lie and cheat and steal to try to release your hold on what is rightfully yours, but refuse to yield. Hold tight and be unshakable.