Tag: trials

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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.

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May the Overflow of Your Heart Mirror Mine

Ephesians 4:2 (TLB) Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Beloved, see with My eyes the motivations of man. Refuse to be affronted, but rather allow the fruit of the Spirit to pour forth from you as you move in patience, grace, and forgiveness. Act in a manner that you would have someone act towards a loved one in their moment of weakness.

Refuse to allow disunity, resentment, or anger to take root. Release any feelings of frustration and instead allow compassion to well up from within you. May the overflow of your heart mirror Mine that others may see and know Me by your actions alone.

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Grace in Persecution

1 Peter 2:19 (ESV) For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

Beloved, I know and fully understand unjust suffering. I have been persecuted, accused, and ridiculed. I know well the pain of being wrongfully attacked – even by those who matter greatly to Me – and the hurt that comes with it all is well known to Me.

When you find yourself accused, judged, and wounded, remember that I have been too. Use that moment to identify with My heart. Focus on that as you choose to respond in love and gentleness refusing to allow your pride to force you to respond rashly or in haste. Forgive those who hurt you and turn them over to My hand, trusting Me to respond as I see fit and to heal and protect your heart. Have grace in the midst of persecution and keep your eyes on Me.

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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.

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Persist Until the Door Swings Wide

Matthew 7:7 (ESV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Beloved, be persistent in your pursuit. Refuse to yield to opposition or be deterred by hindrances. You know My voice, you know My heart for you, refuse to accept anything less than My best for you. Wrestle until you come out the victor.

Refuse to turn away until the door swings wide – until victory is complete and access is granted. Do not lose heart. Trust that I AM with you, leading you, and therefore defeat is not an option. I AM the Lord your God and I AM mighty to save. Continue reading “Persist Until the Door Swings Wide”

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Submit Yourself to My Loving Hands

Jeremiah 18:4 (NIV) But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Beloved, understand your role and understand Mine, then yield to them. Trust Me to know what is best, even when I seemingly break you – know that I always restore. For it is better to be a vine pruned back to the stump and regrowing in strength than to limp through life injured and weakened.

Allow My work in you. Allow Me to prune, reshape, refine. Yield to the process. Refuse the urge to accuse Me of cruelty or unkindness in the moments of hardship and trial. Trust that I AM for you and I AM good. I AM always working for your best interest and the best interest of the Kingdom. Submit yourself to My loving hands.

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Be Known for Your Grace

1 Peter 3:9 (TLB) Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God’s help for them, for we are to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

Beloved, be known for your grace. Be known for being unoffendable. Refuse to allow your pride to be pricked, but instead seek to understand the heart motives behind careless and hurtful actions and pray for those who deliver them. You need not endure abuse, but simply remove yourself quietly rather than taking issue with your assailant. I AM the Lord and I will repay.

Be quick to forgive, leaving all to My hand of justice, for I AM the righteous judge. Beloved, bless those who curse you and pray for those who spitefully use you. Keep your heart tender and trust Me to protect and heal you. Continue reading “Be Known for Your Grace”

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Lose Yourself in the Ocean of My Love

Isaiah 43:2 (TLB) When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you.

Beloved, regardless of the trials you face, I AM always with you and will never leave you. The waters that feel as though they might drown you cannot rend you from My grip. Release yourself to Me and allow the water of My Spirit to saturate you with the depths of My love.

Focus on My heart for you. Refuse to be distracted by the troubles and worries on every side for My love is larger than, grander than, bigger than anything else. Let it fill you and overwhelm you. As you’re lost in the ocean of My love everything else will pale in comparison. Allow the magnitude of all I AM to right-size everything else for, beloved, everything is small when compared to the vastness of Me. There is nothing to fear. You will not drown nor will flames overtake you, only the beauty of My love will overwhelm you, and that is a safe place to rest.

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Rest in the Knowledge You are Mine

Isaiah 43:1 (TLB) But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.

Beloved, can you hear Me calling you? Your name on My lips – sweet as honey and precious to Me. You are Mine. I have called you My own. I have ransomed you. The price has already been paid. Let your heart rejoice in the grace extended to you. Revel in it, beloved, for My mercy is a gift – an extension of My great love for you.

My perfect love leaves no room for fear. When you truly know Me, you know I fiercely love My children and jealously guard them. I stay close in times of trouble, and comfort in times of mourning. I will never leave you. I created you for My pleasure, beloved, and you do please Me. Rest in the knowledge you are Mine.

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Refuse to Relinquish Love

1 John 2:9 (VOICE) Anyone who says, “I live in the light,” but hates his brother or sister is still living in the shadows.

Beloved, be known by your love. Love is an action. Love costs you something. Love brings light and disperses darkness. Look to Me to see how love is defined “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT).

Refuse to withhold your heart, beloved. Love is always the right choice, but true love is not always gentle, so ask Me for wisdom on how to love and let Me teach you. And in the moments of sacrifice, heartache and longing; remember I have felt that pain as well, and press into Me – knowing that you are sharing My sufferings and understanding My heart more deeply, but refuse to relinquish love for it is always the right choice.