Listen Well

Psalm 86:11 (TPT) Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move, so that I can walk onward in your truth until everything within me brings honor to your name.

Beloved, listen well. And don’t just listen, but hear. For I have much to share with you, and there’s so much for you to learn. But that requires a heart both open and desirous of learning – so choose well.

To be more like Me, you must know Me. To walk in My ways, you must know My ways. It’s not simply enough for you to do what you believe is right, for your human perspective is limited, making your judgment imperfect. But I see things rightly, for I see and know all. So trust Me to lead. Trust Me to teach. And choose to listen well.

Psalm 86:9-12 (TPT) Lord Almighty, you are the one who created all the nations; Look at them—they’re all on their way! Yes, the day will come when they all will worship you and put your glory on display. You are the one and only God. What miracles! What wonders! What greatness belongs to you! Teach me more about you, how you work and how you move, so that I can walk onward in your truth until everything within me brings honor to your name. With all my heart and passion I will thank you, my God! I will give glory to your name, always and forever!

A Journey of Discovery

Luke 10:39 (TPT) Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared.

Beloved, find your place at My feet. Cuddle in close, and abide with Me. You cannot rush “quality time,” for it occurs in the plethora of moments intentionally devoted to one another. Those key moments are experienced, but cannot be forced or manufactured.

Devote yourself to Me. Devote time and attention to cultivating relationship with Me. Spend time in the Word reading about Me. Choose to know Me as I have chosen to know you. I invite you to a journey of discovery as you spend your time with Me.

Luke 10:38-42 (TPT) As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared. But Martha became exasperated by finishing the numerous household chores in preparation for her guests, so she interrupted Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you think it’s unfair that my sister left me to do all the work by myself? You should tell her to get up and help me.” The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.”

Demonstrate Your Love

2 John 1:6 (VOICE) Love is defined by our obedience to His commands. This is the same command you have known about from the very beginning; you must live by it.

Beloved, love is not flowery words and dramatic gestures. If you truly love Me, that love is made abundantly clear by the choices – both big and small – that you make each day. For those who love Me keep My commandments. A friend who claims to hold you in high esteem but betrays your confidence, allows their actions to belie their words.

Know My Word. Assess your actions. Ongoingly compare the two to ensure your claims of devotion to Me are underscored by your choices. Beloved, demonstrate your love – not out of a sense of obligation or ritual, but simply from a heart full of passion for Me.

Step Out in Hope

Psalm 130:2, 5 (VOICE) Lord, hear my cry! Attune Your ears to my humble prayer! So I wait for the Eternal—my soul awaits rescue — and I put my hope in His transforming word.

Beloved, step out in hope, for if you hope in Me and the power of My transforming Word – your hope is securely placed. I AM El Aman – the faithful God, and I AM steadfast and true.

So look to Me in times of trouble – I will listen to your cry. And I will remain by you faithfully, in sweet times and in hard. Sustaining you and seeing you through as you persist in stepping out in hope.

Step Where I Lead

Psalm 128:1 (VOICE) Those who stand in awe of the Eternal— who follow wherever He leads, committed in their hearts— experience His blessings!

Beloved, resist the urge to make your own path, but rather trust, and step where I lead. For blessing lies the way of obedience, so choose to honor Me. May My Word lead you, My hand guide you, and My Spirit counsel you as you seek hard after Me.

Be committed in your heart to a way of life and truth. For on My path is the place you’ll find the best I have for you. Choose humility, and yield control as you give all to Me. I’ll lead you well, My precious one, as you step where I lead. Continue reading “Step Where I Lead”

Embrace the Holy Fire of My Life-Changing Love

Song of Songs 8:6 (TPT) …My passion is stronger than the chains of death and the grave, all consuming as the very flashes of fire from the burning heart of God…

Beloved, there is nothing that can dissuade Me from loving you. No sin too great, no shame too deep – refuse to confuse disappointment with rejection. I will never reject you, for you are deeply beloved by Me. Yes, there are decisions you may make (or have made) that grieve My heart, but you must know that much of that grief is because I know how it will effect you.

It hurts Me to see you in pain, trapped in shame, and caught in fruitless cycles that keep you from My best for you. These things do not cause Me to turn My back on you, but rather they cause My heart to weep for you. I have given you My Word that you might choose well, not so that I can take joy in seeing where you err and fall short.

You are My beloved, and, as you embrace that identity, you will be set free from the sins that so easily beset you. For My love strengthens and purifies you. So embrace the holy fire of My life-changing love and be transformed. Continue reading “Embrace the Holy Fire of My Life-Changing Love”

Engage with Me and Feast on My Word

3 John 1:4 (NLT) I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

Beloved, give Me the gift of obedience. Walk in the truth of My Word. Resist the urge to second guess that which challenges your expectations, and instead learn with an open heart ready to receive My truth. 

Resist the urge to get caught up in the doctrine and arguments of men. Bring your questions to Me. A walk with Me is intended to be about relationship, not rules. So engage with Me, feast on My Word, and grow strong in your faith.

Heed My Words

Proverbs 8:36 (VOICE) But heed my warning: the one who goes against me will only hurt himself, for all who despise me are playing with fire and courting death.

Beloved, I long to see you prosper. When I give you instructions or even a warning, I’m not doing so because I like to be in control or simply to exert My will over yours. I do it because I have understanding you do not. And if you will but trust Me, I will lead you rightly and save you much pain.

However, for those who resist My instructions and who refuse to heed My admonishments, avoidable hardships will obstruct their path. This is not some cruel retaliation on My part for the one who doesn’t give Me proper respect, but rather it is simply cause and effect. If you play with fire, you’d be foolish to be surprised when you get burned.

So heed My words, beloved, and heed them well. With a heart full of wisdom, choose to trust Me implicitly, and obey in love. For when you do, you will be blessed coming and going. And I richly desire that you flourish because I long to see you prosper.

Calibrate Your Behavior to Align with My Word

Proverbs 1:10 (VOICE) My son, should your less honorable peers pressure you to do what is wrong, you should be strong enough not to go along.

Beloved, refuse to be pressured into bad or questionable behavior by those around you. Calibrate your behavior to align with My Word. I AM your true north – your guiding star, so look to Me for direction and refuse to be knocked off course.

Rather than succumbing to pressure, be a standard setter yourself. Quietly lead by example that others might see what it looks like to live in a way that honors Me. Trust Me to strengthen you. Focus on being a God-pleaser instead of a pleaser of men. For in the end, I AM the One who matters, so look to Me.

Withhold Nothing

Hebrews 11:17 (VOICE) By faith Abraham, when he endured God’s testing, offered his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice. The one who had received God’s promise was willing to offer his only son;

Beloved, withhold nothing from Me. Remember all you have is from My hand. So refuse to be like a dog growling at its  master’s outstretched hand as it enjoys a bone that was gifted from that very same hand. Trust all to Me. Resist the urge to guard or withhold from Me that which you hold dear.

If I instruct you in My Word not to frustrate your children, do you think I will turn around and do the opposite of what I instruct? Trust Me. I give and I take away, but I AM always working for good. Simply because I remove something doesn’t mean you’re “in trouble.” Trust that I AM working for your good.

So be passionate in your faith of Me. Withhold nothing. Demonstrate by your actions the level of belief you have in who I AM and the nature of My character. Let your unreserved faith declare Me worthy to all. Continue reading “Withhold Nothing”