Reflect the Son Brightly

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love… finds no delight in what is wrong…

Beloved, the world would have you believe that doing what is right is boring. It paints sin as lush and exciting – experiences meant to indulge in and enjoy. But beloved, the world doesn’t have your best interests at heart nor is it accurately accounting the truth.

One could paint touching a hot stove as exciting and an act of freedom, but without acknowledging the resulting burn and the amount of painful time spent healing (the momentary “positive” act of freedom weighed against the lengthy negative), the truth is not being reflected.

By painting sin as fun, joyous, and exciting, others are drawn into the trap. Refuse to bring others into bondage or needless pain by delighting in that which is evil.

Choose instead to walk in a manner that aligns with My word knowing it is the path of light. True joy and fulfillment are there. And any hardships along that path are for your benefit, to grow and be refined. You are a child of the day, so walk in the light and reflect the Son brightly. Continue reading “Reflect the Son Brightly”

Be a Living, Breathing Testimony

Colossians 1:10 (VOICE) May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what’s more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You.

Beloved, draw near. Come close and abide. Fix your heart on Me and hold Me close, meditate on My word – delight in Me. Make Me your filter, see everything through Me and My heart. Refuse to experience the world simply through the reactions of your flesh or be slave to your fickle emotions, but rather be firmly rooted in Me.

May your life be a testament to Me. You are a child of the day. Shine, beloved, reflect the Son. May the peace in your heart be the evidence of your time dwelling in My presence. Let My joy pour forth and infiltrate everything you do. Bear fruit. Give evidence of your relationship with Me. Be a living, breathing testimony.

Radiant Royalty

Psalm 76:4 (TPT) God, you are so resplendent and radiant! Your majesty shines from your everlasting mountain. Nothing could be compared to you in glory!

Beloved, you are radiant royalty. A resplendent reflection of His glory. You know Whose you are. Just His name alone brings a hope. In the deepness of night and the brightest of day, you shine more brightly because you are His.

Your strength is in Him. Identity is in Him. Hope is in Him. You will not stray. You know He loves you. You walk in that deep intimacy with Him and have a steadfast knowledge of your true identity. You are a beloved child of God.

Radiate Love and Life

1 Peter 2:1 (TLB) So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs.

Beloved, refuse to indulge in satisfying your flesh by allowing hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness to fester nor by allowing the fruit thereof to flourish. You are children of God and of the light, and knowing and having experienced Me you are inherently different than the world, no longer slaves to emotion.

You are no longer driven by reaction. Be one who chooses how to respond to any circumstance or situation with My heart and reflecting My character. Beloved, bear fruit. I have not promised it would be easy, but I AM with you and will never leave you. Let your godly character and the fruit of My Spirit shine like the sun for all to see. You have already been given what you need, radiate love and life.

I AM YHVH Shalom

2 Peter 2:9 (NLT) So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

Beloved, no circumstance is so complex that I’m unable to extract you from it. There are times I may walk you through for your character’s sake, but I AM always able. So trust Me and never hesitate to ask Me for help for I AM a very present help in times of trouble.

Take My hand and walk in peace – regardless of circumstance. I AM YHVH Shalom, the Lord your Peace, and I will never leave you or forsake you. My joy is your strength and it is always there for the taking because it is found in My presence and I will always receive you. No trouble is too great. No shame too heavy. Nothing will keep Me from My children nor lessen My love for them – and that means you.

I Receive You

Leviticus 9:24 (NLT) Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.

Beloved, present yourself as a living offering. You are precious to Me. Whether you feel lovely or worthy matters not, simply offer Me you. Just as with offerings of old, I will send My fire – the fire of My Spirit – to consume the offering as a symbol of My acceptance. So know as you feel My fire, you are Mine – your life a fragrant offering before Me, pleasing and acceptable.

I will receive you, beloved. Hold nothing back. Grant to Me your whole heart. Give Me all of you, unreservedly. Refuse to allow fear of not being enough to hold you back, for I love My children, imperfections and all. You are enough when you give Me all of you. I receive you. I accept you. You are Mine. Continue reading “I Receive You”

Recognize I AM a Gift

Psalm 37:4 (VOICE) Take great joy in the Eternal! His gifts are coming, and they are all your heart desires!

Behold I love to give good gifts. I love to bless My children. I delight in giving them the things their hearts long for (as long as those things won’t be harmful to them). But beloved, you must know that I won’t allow you to lift anything in your heart higher than me. I cannot help you make idols because to do so would hurt you, and I love you far too much to permit that.

Recognize that I AM a gift – My love, My presence, and relationship with Me. Cherish this gift and take delight in it (in Me). Make Me the center of your world – your deepest joy, your heart’s desire. Watch as I pour forth My blessings when you lavish your love on the Gift Giver rather than focusing on the gifts I give. Beloved, recognize Me as the greatest gift of all.

Sole Priority

2 Samuel 6:14 (CJB) Then David danced and spun around with abandon before Adonai, wearing a linen ritual vest.

Beloved, refuse to let the thoughts and opinions of others cause you to stifle your words and actions. Allow the overflow of your heart to pour forth in unabashed praise. Move past simply “working through it” to a place where those thoughts and opinions no longer matter and you’re not even aware of them anymore.

Be radical for Me. Be completely sold out for Me. Make Me the center of your world. Be abandoned in your praise and intensely persistent in your pursuit. Be relentless. Don’t hold back. Be “even more undignified than this.” Focus on pleasing Me alone. Make that your sole priority. Continue reading “Sole Priority”

Unfailing Love

John 10:11 (AMP) I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

Beloved, I love you with a sacrificial love. No cost is too great nor effort too much where you are concerned. There is no length I wouldn’t go for you (nor one I haven’t gone to already). You are Mine – My heart and the apple of My eye.

I have much patience for you, beloved. You need never fear I’ll grow tired of your shortcomings or lose patience with your hesitations, I know your heart intimately. I understand the whys behind every fear and failure, and I love you in the midst of them all. I remain steadfastly by your side. You will never wear Me out or exasperate Me. I AM with you and I AM for you. Place your hand in Mine, beloved, and simply follow My lead.

I AM the Good Shepherd

John 10:14 (AMP) I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]

Beloved, you are My precious child. You are My very own. You are a part of Me and I know you intimately. You can rely on Me and trust Me to lead and counsel you wisely, for I AM the Good Shepherd and I care deeply for My sheep.

And My sheep know Me. They know My voice and listen (and obey) My instructions. They know My touch and follow My leadings. They choose to rest in Me – relying on Me to provide, protect, and prepare. I AM faithful and I love My little ones, not one escapes My notice. I AM good, rely on Me.