Never Forget Who You Are

1 Peter 2:9 (TPT) But you are God’s chosen treasure —priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own.

Beloved, never forget who you are and who you’re called to be. You are Mine. Called to be in My presence, to boldly approach My throne of grace. Called to minister at My feet, to pour out your life as a sweet offering to Me.

I receive you. You are acceptable in My sight. Lovely and beautiful, radiant for Me. I see you. You shine so brightly, beloved. Your face reflects My glory as you stay close to Me. Dwell in this place. Continue reading “Never Forget Who You Are”

Sacrifice Your Ego

Matthew 5:43-48 (TPT) …I say to you, love your enemy…

Beloved, choose not to respond as the world does. Resist the urge to indulge your flesh, and refuse to take offense or seek out retribution. Put others in My hands and simply operate in love. This doesn’t mean openly and continually being exposed to abuse – for that is not My heart for you – but rather, in the moments you’re faced with adversity, respond in steadfast, life-changing love.

You never know when an unexpected response of love – a kind and gentle word – will shift someone’s entire life. Be willing to pay the cost of your pride. When your identity is in Me, your fleshly ego is a price well-paid to change a heart. And though you may not see the impact your love has, I do. I see it as a most beautiful and pleasing sacrifice, most acceptable in My sight. Continue reading “Sacrifice Your Ego”

Burn for Me

Leviticus 6:13 (AMP) The fire shall be burning continually on the altar; it shall not [be allowed to] go out.

Beloved, it is your responsibility to maintain and nurture the flame of worship in your heart. I cannot nor will not attempt to force you into a place of intimacy with Me. I simply invite you in. The onus rests on you to cultivate a heart that burns for Me.

So stir up the flames, beloved. Resist the pull towards complacency and choose instead to press in for more of Me. Refuse to settle for second best, for cheap counterfeits that will leave you unsatisfied and unfulfilled. I AM all you need. Choose to burn for Me.

Trust That I AM Bigger

John 15:14 (MSG) You are my friends when you do the things I command you.

Beloved, be obedient to My voice. Regardless of your maturity or lack thereof, I can work with whatever you’ll give Me as you yield to My direction and follow My flow to the best of your ability trusting Me to make up the difference.

There will be times you don’t understand, and times you think I have “missed it” because you mistakenly thought you knew where I was headed – all that is fine and even expected – but refuse to allow it to harden your heart towards Me.

Trust Me to lead. Trust that you don’t need all the details to successfully execute My plans for you. Simply be open to the next step, and the next – on and on until suddenly you realize you know Me better than you thought because you’ve yielded and watched Me move, seen Me follow through, seen Me be faithful, and even seen Me have surprising and unexpected solutions.

Trust that I AM bigger than your failings, bigger than any human shortsightedness or insecurities, imperfections, or presumptions. I AM enough, rest in Me.

The Only One Who is Worthy

Deuteronomy 13:4 (VOICE) Remain loyal to Him! Fear Him and obey His commands. Listen to His voice. Worship Him alone. Be fervently devoted to Him.

Beloved, I AM worthy of your steadfast devotion. Resist the urge to lavish your time and attention on things that are of no consequence or value. Refuse to be lulled into a sense of complacency or become so engrossed in entertainment that you become numb to real life.

The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Refuse to be taken down without resistance simply because you’ve become too lethargic to care. Ask Me to align your heart with My own, that you might know what matters and what is of no-account. Beloved, waste your life on Me – the only One who is worthy – pour yourself out like a drink offering upon My altar, wholly acceptable and highly pleasing to Me.

Pour Out from Your Overflow

Psalm 33:2 (VOICE) Worship the Eternal with your instruments, strings offering their praise; write awe-filled songs to Him on the 10-stringed harp.

Beloved, use whatever is at your disposal to make a joyful noise. I AM less concerned with proficiency than heart, so simply pour out from your overflow the joy and worship you have for Me, may your love shine forth on words and notes so sweet unto My ear. May your praise be a fragrant offering and your worship as incense before My throne.

Make your praise glorious, worthy of the King of Kings. Like the widow’s mite, your all will be enough – you and your praise will be accepted when offered with clean hands and a pure heart. Ascend the heights with Me, beloved, lost in the glory of My praise. Watch life and joy pour forth as the flame on the altar burns brightly.

Psalm 66:1-2 (ASV) Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth: Sing forth the glory of his name: Make his praise glorious.

Tremble in Awe

Psalm 96:9 (TPT) Come worship the Lord God wearing the splendor of holiness. Let everyone wait in wonder as they tremble in awe before him.

Beloved, tremble in awe as you gaze on My beauty – as the eyes of your heart become clear and you see Me for all I AM. I AM holy, rich in mercy – an awesome God, the great I AM. Meditate on all I AM. Let your heart be full. Be overtaken.

Set aside earth pursuits and distractions and make time to to seek Me. Choose to be holy as I AM holy. Offer yourself as a gift – a holy offering – an act of worship. I AM life-changing, life-giving, the author of hope. Being with Me changes things – changes you – the cares of the world will fall away as you see Me as I AM.

Pour Out

Psalm 29:2 (NLT) Honor the LORD for the glory of his name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Beloved, be holy as I AM holy. Knowing that you can fully rely on me to be set apart, unique in My divine perfection, allows you the freedom to fully rest in who I AM because it is perfect and unchanging. That is beautiful and worthy of celebrating, worthy of worship. So pour it out.

Bask in the splendor of My glow, the radiance of My glory. Give honor unto My name. Pour your heart out before Me as a pleasing offering, a sweet aroma before My throne, a living sacrifice. Make this your life’s ambition, to worship at My feet, to lavish love upon Me, to waste your life on Me. I will receive you. You are Mine. Continue reading “Pour Out”

Receiving the Gift

Isaiah 53:5 (VOICE) But he was hurt because of us; he suffered so. Our wrongdoing wounded and crushed him. He endured the breaking that made us whole. The injuries he suffered became our healing.

Beloved, My Son was born that He might die – graciously sacrificing Himself on your behalf, His love poured out for you – a selfless and perfect offering made on your behalf. The cost was high. Yet we choose it willingly because that is the depth of the love of God.

Refuse to waste the gift you’ve been given. Walk in the freedom that came at so dear a price. Cling to the Blood-bought healing for your body, mind, soul, and spirit. The price has been paid, there’s no need to try to pay again out of a mistaken sense of guilt or shame. Don’t belittle the sacrifice given out of love on your behalf. Receive the fullness of the gift. Continue reading “Receiving the Gift”

Let Righteousness Be Your Reward

Luke 18:9 (VOICE) He told another parable—this one addressed to people who were confident in their self-righteousness and looked down on other people with disgust.

Beloved, your identity is firmly rooted in Me. You have no need of posturing and in fact I will bring the effects of any such attempts to naught. I AM the one who gives honor, do not try to grab it for yourself – especially at the expense of others – rather trust Me to protect your good name.

Walk in humility. Refuse to be baited into fruitless bickering, but instead shift the atmosphere by responding in love and grace. Allow the fruit of the Spirit to pour from your life. Turn the other cheek. Remember each time you sacrifice the desires of your flesh it is an offering before My throne and its fragrance is exceedingly sweet to Me. Let righteousness be your reward.