An Audience of One

Galatians 1:10 (VOICE) Do you think I care about the approval of men or about the approval of God? Do you think I am on a mission to please people? If I am still spinning my wheels trying to please men, then there is no way I can be a servant of the Anointed One, the Liberating King.

Beloved, be free from the desire for the approval of man. For if you are driven by their fickle opinions, your goal will be an ever moving target. If you allow their praise to build you, remember in due season you will deal with their criticism, which often is unfounded and rooted in wrong motives, for I AM the only righteous judge. Would you give them such power over you?

Longing for their praise gives them far more influence in your life than is right or good for your heart. Focus your energy on being a God-pleaser. Play to an audience of One. Allow My praise and judgment to guide your actions, for My expectations are made clear in My word and you have the support of My Spirit to walk them out. Keep your heart fixed on Me and trust Me to rightly guide you. I will not steer you wrong.

Season of Blessing

Galatians 6:7 (VOICE) Make no mistake: God can’t be mocked. What you give is what you get. What you sow, you harvest.

Beloved, have no fear, I see your humility and choice to love even when it hurts. Though you sow in tears, you will reap in joy. Refuse to believe the season of harvest will never come, for I will not be mocked. I AM a God of order, truth, and righteousness. I do not forget anything. So though you may feel as though your season of harvest is never coming, have no fear, it’s arrival is assured and it will be right on time.

Refuse to allow lies from the enemy to take root and discourage you or turn your heart bitter against Me. Stand strong in faith and truth, holding fast to who you know Me to be. I AM a good and faithful God, and I will never forsake you. So anticipate your season of blessing, it is coming – lo it is here.

Make Love Top Priority

Galatians 5:14 (TLB) For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: “Love others as you love yourself.”

Beloved, make love your top priority. Make love your first response. Be filled with My love that you might pour forth from your overflow. Be saturated by My love as you abide in My presence. Be restored, renewed, refreshed, and healed.

Choose love, refusing to indulge your pride with fleshly responses, but rather seeking to be like Me – loving without reserve, loving with no thoughts of self-preservation. Let your love change those around you. Let it be a window to My heart that they might see Me. Choose love, beloved, choose love.

Let Your Actions Declare My Faithfulness

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…faithfulness,

Beloved, I AM forever faithful, setting the example for My children. Allow My Spirit to bring forth faithfulness in you. That you might be focused and singleminded, a picture of loyalty and steadfastness – displaying My character and nature as you reflect Me.

Bear sweet fruit, beloved. You are made in My image, empowered by My Spirit, this character is not beyond your reach. It requires trust in Me – a trust that demonstrates to the world that I AM good and worthy of trust. Your actions will speak far louder than your words ever could, so declare My faithfulness by surrendering your all to Me knowing I AM full of love and worthy of your heart. Be at peace, I will meet you there for I AM good. Continue reading “Let Your Actions Declare My Faithfulness”

Let My Love Nourish You

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…goodness…

Beloved, let fruit pour forth from a rich relationship with Me. I AM always here, I AM always ready, and I always love you. Reach out to Me. Let Me be your nourishment. As the saying goes, you are what you eat, so dine on My word as the choicest of meats and drink deeply of My saturating love.

Then let goodness pour forth from your life – the fingerprints of Me made manifest. Bear fruit, beloved. Operate in integrity – simply because I see, and you desire to walk in a manner pleasing to Me. Do it with joy knowing the pleasure you bring. Let your light shine brightly. Set an example to others. Walk in the fullness of all I’ve made you for.

Kindness is Contagious 

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…kindness,

Beloved, as My fruit multiplies within you, let it pour forth from your heart in the form of kindness. Be known for being one who is gracious and generous of spirit, full of mercy and overflowing with compassion. Let kindness be your trademark.

Nurture others’ wellbeing, making their interests your focus trusting that I will make yours My own. Encourage those around you to operate in joy and love simply by doing so yourself. Kindness is contagious. Spread it liberally!

Be My Love with Skin On

Note: in scripture, things were often repeated for emphasis in the same way we bold or italicize things now. So when God chooses to repeat something, He’s saying, “This is important.” With that said, I smiled when He launched into a second day on this scripture. 🙂

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]…

Beloved, it is never worth wounding someone’s heart over your schedule, your “rights”, or your pride. No matter how pressed for time you may feel, the people I place around you are there by design. They are opportunities to be My love. The frazzled checkout clerk who has been swamped all day may desperately need your smile rather than yet another frustrated customer who is short with them.

You may never know what’s going on behind the scenes. You may never know what fruit your actions bring, but I do. I see when your moment of kindness tilts the balance in that person’s life so they choose life for one more day rather than giving up. You may not know the full impact your actions have, but that doesn’t mean your actions aren’t having impact.

So choose to kill your flesh. Cultivate patience. Respond in love even when the world would say you have a “right” to be affronted. Be My love with skin on. Bear fruit and bear it abundantly.

Godly Patience, a Tangible Love

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting]…

Beloved, remember that your actions reflect on Me. Whether you are aware or not, people watch to see how you react and respond to people and situations. They want to know if relationship with Me and My presence in a person really make a difference. Pause and ponder what messages you send about Me and if they’re the ones you want and intend to send.

I’ve instructed you to bear with one another in love. Just as I AM patient and long-suffering with you, I have asked you to do likewise with those around you. Reflect Me. Reflect My heart. Show that the fruit of My Spirit in you is a godly patience that operates in true, tangible love. Let that fruit be manifest for all to see for it is good.  Continue reading “Godly Patience, a Tangible Love”

Cultivate the Peace of My Presence 

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…[inner] peace…

Beloved, the quiet that you find inside is from Me. Seek it. Cultivate it. Cultivate the quiet that exudes – that shalom that others can feel. It is a tangible and comforting presence, like a deep exhale – rest for the tired and soul weary. My peace isn’t a passive presence – it wars against chaos – much like light dispels darkness, My peace dispels chaos and stress.

So find that place within you where I reside. Cultivate and enlarge its footprint in your life. Make room. Make way. Open the doors for Me to flood you with the peace of My presence. Then dwell there, refusing to be moved regardless of circumstances or the world around you. I AM peace and I AM with you. Watch and pray.

Bring Forth Joy

Galatians 5:22 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…joy,

Beloved, let joy spring from deep within you, like waters bubbling up from the deep. Joy is not dependent on circumstance (“happenings” as happiness is), but rather comes from a heart rooted in Me, watered by My Spirit, one that knows the love of their Creator and the grace they’ve been extended.

Allow joy to be your perfume, exuding from you as people bask in your presence. May it reflect the difference in you, and cause others to see Me in you – to recognize Me in your countenance. Rest in that joy, and hold to it in all circumstances remembering the joy that comes from Me brings strength. So be strengthened and strengthen others by carrying My joy because it is contagious. Let joy arise!

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) …the joy of the Lord is your strength.”