Walk peacefully with Me through this day. You are wondering how you will cope with all that is expected of you. You must traverse this day like any other: one step at a time. Instead of mentally rehearsing how you will do this or that, keep your mind on My Presence and on taking the next step. The more demanding your day, the more help you can expect from Me. This is a training opportunity, since I designed you for deep dependence on your Shepherd-King. Challenging times wake you up and amplify your awareness of needing My help.
When you don’t know what to do, wait while I open the way before you. Trust that I know what I’m doing, and be ready to follow My lead. I will give strength to you, and I will bless you with Peace.
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”- EXODUS 33:14
The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.- DEUTERONOMY 33:25
May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.- HEBREWS 13:20–21
The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.- PSALM 29:11
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Disciplined Opportunities
Every time something thwarts your plans or desires, use that as a reminder to communicate with Me. This practice has several benefits. The first is obvious: Talking with Me blesses you and strengthens our relationship. Another benefit is that disappointments, instead of dragging you down, are transformed into opportunities for good. This transformation removes the sting from difficult circumstances, making it possible to be joyful in the midst of adversity.
Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.- COLOSSIANS 4:2
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.- PHILIPPIANS 3:7–8
Begin by practicing this discipline in all the little disappointments of daily life. It is often these minor setbacks that draw you away from My Presence. When you reframe setbacks as opportunities, you find that you gain much more than you have lost. It is only after much training that you can accept major losses in this positive way. But it is possible to attain the perspective of the apostle Paul, who wrote: Compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, I consider everything I once treasured to be as insignificant as rubbish.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.- COLOSSIANS 4:2
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.- PHILIPPIANS 3:7–8
Thursday, November 1, 2012
My Weaknesses
Grow strong in the Light of My Presence. Your weakness does not repel Me. On the contrary, it attracts My Power, which is always available to flow into a yielded heart. Do not condemn yourself for your constant need of help. Instead, come to Me with your gaping neediness; let the Light of My Love fill you.
A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets rough. It musters the courage to thank Me even during hard times. Yielding yourself to My will is ultimately an act of trust. In quietness and trust is your strength.
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.- PSALM 116:5–7
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.- EPHESIANS 5:20
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”- ISAIAH 30:15
A yielded heart does not whine or rebel when the going gets rough. It musters the courage to thank Me even during hard times. Yielding yourself to My will is ultimately an act of trust. In quietness and trust is your strength.
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.- PSALM 116:5–7
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.- EPHESIANS 5:20
This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”- ISAIAH 30:15
No One is Perfect!
Do not be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your focus on Me. I know that your heart’s desire is to be aware of My Presence continually. This is a lofty goal; you aim toward it but never fully achieve it in this life. Don’t let feelings of failure weigh you down. Instead, try to see yourself as I see you. First of all, I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me through your life. I am pleased each time you initiate communication with Me. In addition, I notice the progress you have made since you first resolved to live in My Presence.
When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don’t be alarmed or surprised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days.
How many times have you heard the saying "no one is perfect"? We hear it all of the time because it is true. There is no one in our lives who can get everything right, who can say the right words all of the time and who can go without sin. God knows this. We do not need to try to be the perfect Christian for God to accept us. He knows that we are going to stray off His path and sin and that is ok because He knows where our hearts truly are at.
Its takes practice to get to our goals and if we want to be a better Christian for God we need to set a goal for our self and then celebrate the accomplishments along the way. Having small checkpoints will reassure our life journey with God while also keeping us sane within the world we live.
It is not easy trying to be perfect, so don't try. Set goals, check-in and stay in communication with God.
When you realize that your mind has wandered away from Me, don’t be alarmed or surprised. You live in a world that has been rigged to distract you. Each time you plow your way through the massive distractions to communicate with Me, you achieve a victory. Rejoice in these tiny triumphs, and they will increasingly light up your days.
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.- ROMANS 8:33–34
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.- HEBREWS 4:14–16___________________________________________________________
How many times have you heard the saying "no one is perfect"? We hear it all of the time because it is true. There is no one in our lives who can get everything right, who can say the right words all of the time and who can go without sin. God knows this. We do not need to try to be the perfect Christian for God to accept us. He knows that we are going to stray off His path and sin and that is ok because He knows where our hearts truly are at.
Its takes practice to get to our goals and if we want to be a better Christian for God we need to set a goal for our self and then celebrate the accomplishments along the way. Having small checkpoints will reassure our life journey with God while also keeping us sane within the world we live.
It is not easy trying to be perfect, so don't try. Set goals, check-in and stay in communication with God.
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