Blessing On your Life!

Obedience opens opportunities for much blessing. The windows of heaven are opened to those who Tithe. If God seems remote from you at this time, think about your giving! Malachi 3:8 speaks about God being robbed. The people were not giving Him what they were commanded to. He says they were cursed because they had robbed Him. It was like a blight upon their lives, mildew on their crops.
God's work needs the blessing of our finances. We are to provide meat for His house; finance for the kingdom to be increased and the Good News to be preached. It all costs money! God challenges us to prove Him through our giving. He says that He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that we cannot contain? Mal 3:10 That is an amazing statement!
He also promised to rebuke the devourer. Their land would yield good crops. The pests and diseases would not cause the harvest to fail. They would have plenty in their barns if they put food into God's barn. It was in His interests to bless them, because as they had increase so also His house had increase, because they gave to Him.
'Bring ALL the tithes into the storehouse, and prove me now, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven, and pour you out so much blessing, that you will not have room enough for it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground'. Malachi 3:10,11

Trust Me!

Trust Me even though you cannot see Me. Trust Me when your heart is failing you for fear. Trust Me moment by moment with your life. All is not lost. Though the storm clouds gather, trust Me to take you through.
In this world you will have times of tribulation, but fear not, I have overcome the world, and as you trust Me so you also will overcome the world. Greater is He who is within you than he who is in the world.
Though you feel that you struggle alone, you are not alone. The heavenly hosts gather round you. The angels are close to you. The saints in glory spur you on.
Negative thoughts are attacking your mind, seeking to pull you down. Words spoken by others have wrapped your mind in confusion and you do not know what is true and what is false. But stand fast! I am about to display My power in your life. As a baby is drawn from the womb and gasps for new breath, so I will deliver you into a new realm. The pains are but birth pangs, and there will be a delivery! The pressure on your mind is due to you passing through the birth canal. You will slip effortlessly into freedom and see new light in your circumstances.
'Why art thou cast down O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God' Ps 42:11

Walk On Water!

You are going to have to venture out and walk on water again. You have done it before and found God faithful. He has never let you down or caused you to fall. But you have become unwilling to try it again. Some of your prayers will only be answered as you move! help yourself by overcoming in small ways. Stretch your spiritual muscles again. The season of dormancy is almost over. Now you need to step out of the boat. Soon there will be new challenges in your path and there are things you can do to prepare yourself for this.
God is watching over you and encouraging you on. Don't be afraid. Take small steps to begin with and you will discover you can do more than you thought. His grace will flood into your heart as you overcome. Not before hand, but as you take the steps, so you will find that there is rock under your feet, not water!
' I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me (I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me: I am self sufficient in Christ's suffiency) Phill 4:13 (amp)

God's Discipline.

Accept this time as an opportunity to come closer to God. Don't become impatient and pull against the yoke He has put upon you. And don't blame the devil for every adverse circumstance you meet. God is disciplining you because some of your attitudes need changing. And this is the time for it to happen. If things don't seem to be going your well, stop, and ask the Lord to show any faults in your heart that are blocking your way. Though it is painful, it is necessary for you to be pruned. He is the One who does this through the Holy Spirit using your conscience to speak to you. In your heart you know when you have done wrong. Don't push the conviction away, for you will suffer if you do. Come into the Light and confess your faults and ask God to heal you. We really do love ourselves too much! We say we love God, we think we love God, but secretly we love and try to preserve ourselves. We love our comfort zone, and so often want to feel cosy and warm, not willing to venture forth into a new walk with Him, into the unknown.
Chastening and disciplining bring us into reality again. He really is Holy. He really is Almighty. Give Him total control of your self and allow Him to change your heart for the better.
'And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you. because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Heb 21:5,6

Cleanse Our Hearts

Asking God to deal with your pride is a huge step! Pride and arrogance dress themselves up in many different clothes. It is possible to wear sackcloth, and yet be proud of appearing humble. Standing up for our rights can be a covering for pride; yet to be seen doing the humble thing in a situation can also be masked pride! thinking we are not proud can be camourflaged pride. The only one who can expose our pride is the Holy Spirit, and He is the one who must reveal and deal with it.
We can be sure that God hates pride. It caused the fall of Satan. It can cause us to fall. There is a proverb that says 'pride comes before a fall'. And the Bible teaches that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. So some of the difficulties we find ourselves in are allowed by God to deliver us of our pride. When people don't think well of us; or we are not given the honour we think we deserve, others overlook us or speak about us behind our back, wanting to be right all the time, all these things touch our pride. Being pushed into taking the lowest place, rather than choosing the lowest place can hit our pride.
If we are in need of grace, want to come close to God, then in humility we must ask Him to cleanse us and then draw near to us again. He will do it if we are honest and sincere about our self. Don't shrink, let all be exposed before Him. We are to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, not necessarily man, and He will lift us up Jas 4:10
'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves, therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.' James 4: 6-8

Arise and Shine!

The shadows hovering over you that are causing confusion in your life, are only shadows! they are not the real. They are mists in your imagination. Vapours easily dispersed by faith. Repent, renounce, rebuke, all fear, and despondancy. Push it away from you as an old garment. You are now ready for change into the new. This is a short time of transition. The new has been made ready for you. Soon your memory of the old will pass away and you will enjoy forgetfulness of the dreaded things behind you. I am working a supernatural thing within you. Yield to me, and hunger for My righteousness and prepare your heart to receive your new garment.
'Arise (from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you-rise to a new life)! SHINE (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! Isa 60:1 (amp)

Much Fruit

The Vine is a plant that is not grown for its ornamental shape, shade, fragrant blossoms, or its wood! It is grown soley for the fruit it produces. It only produces fruit in abundance as it is trained, shaped, and pruned. If not pruned it can run away with itself, and grow straggly, and become unfruitful! The world loves the fruit of the Vine! The wine produced from it is sampled with relish, drunk in abundance, discussed with fervour! It is no wonder that Christ used the illustration of the Vine to teach us to 'Abide in Him'. Not one Vine is planted without the owner thinking only of the fruit. So our 'Husbandmen' looks at our lives and desires fruit, more fruit, much fruit from us. And this is accomplished through pruning.
We do not like the idea of pruning, it speaks of loss and some pain. But when we suffer the Spirit of God and glory rests on us. When we are afflicted, God shows us His tenderness and that leads us to understand and sympathise with the misery of others. Left to ourselves we would become self centred, and become straggling branches on the Vine. The things we learn whilst we go through the pruning process, teach us to pray for the blessing of others, not just ourselves. Our times of affliction, sorrow, suffering, can become times of the greatest blessings in life. The secret is to'Abide in the Vine'. Rest in Jesus love, stay put in His presence, believe that He is using this time for your profit not for your punishment. You are in a process that will lead to you bearing much fruit.
'I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing..............This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples'. John 15: 5,8.

Step Forward!

You do not need to know where I am leading you, or which direction you are walking in. Just take a step at a time in obedience to My leading.Trust Me! All your reasoning or thought will not help you at this time. I know the way seems strange and dark to you, but be sure that I am leading.
As each step is taken so the next will become plain. You need to travel in this way because it is the easiest for you. You do not need to see far ahead at this time. There are twists and turns along the way. You are safest taking just one step at a time. Do not dread what is ahead of you. I am bringing you into a large place where you will see and understand what I am doing in your life, and you will find peace. But at this present time you need to step forward slowly through the confusion that Satan is throwing at you. The clouds will lift and the struggle will pass. Don't give in to the temptaion to remain static. Keep moving forward as each step opens up.
'Urged on by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance: and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go'. Heb 11:8 (amp)

Just As I Am!

If you lack love, ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit. There is an infilling available for us moment by moment. We are not alone. God will lead us into victory by His own Spirit. We could not save ourselves. He came and brought us out of the prison of self and sin. If Jesus left His home in heaven, walked this earth sharing the pain of humanity, then dying on a cross to bring us to God, surely He will give us victory over all our difficulties. You can trust the Man who died for you! Who else is there who forgives, delivers from the power of death, and is utterly faithful?
His grace is sufficient for today, tomorrow, and the future. Ask and it shall be given you, good measure, overflowing, more than you need. Don't run from God, run to Him, and He will prove Himself faithful. People let us down, human nature is fickle, and we are not what we often pretend to be. But God is true, perfect, kind, just. And He loves us just as we are! Be filled with His love today, and give it to someone else!
'God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given to us' Rom 5:5

Passing Through!

There are so many ways we can encourage others. The word means 'to put courage in'and 'to inspire with spirit or hope'. The Bible speaks a lot about encouragement. In Acts 9:31 the church was encouraged by the Holy Spirit bringing a time of peace after persecution. Barnabas was sent to Antioch and encouraged the believers to remain true to the Lord Acts 11:23. Prophets were used to bring encouragement Acts 15:9. The testimony of Paul and Silas when they came out of prison was an encouragement to the Christians Acts 16:40. Letters were sent; disciples brought encouragement as they travelled and met with others.
As Christians we can mutually encourage each others faith; we can stand in the gap and intercede; we can send a letter; we can make a phone call; we can bring wisdom into a situation; we can give someone a meal; share our home; provide finance for missions; send Bibles to poor countries.
We all need encouragement to serve the Lord and continue in the faith as the days grow darker and discouraging! Be an encourager. Support and listen to others. Help to grow their faith and gifts. Smile!
'And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds' Heb 10:24.

'I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good work, therefore, any kindness, or any service I can render to any soul or animal, let me do it now. Let me not neglect to defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.' An old Quaker saying.

Be Still!

Be careful about making decisions out of fear. God leads by His peace and you can afford to wait for His peace to settle in your heart before you move forward. He really is the good Shepherd who goes before us, leading, not as one who drives us onward. Be careful of anything that pressurizes you to make a decision. Fear can push us to hasty decisions, and causes us to panic and try to keep control of our lives. Fear of what others might think, or expect from us. God's peace leads gently and there is a feeling of 'rightness' about the proposed plans. Fear brings a darkness that shadows the ability to think things through calmly. Peace bring light and there is no claustrophobic pressure with it. Bring everything to the Lord for His guidance and then wait for Him to reveal the next step. Overcome fear by faith.
 'God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind' 2 Tim 1:7.

My Yoke Is Easy.

The Lord says " Come to Me and sink into My love. There is a refreshing that will gently wash over you as you linger in My presence. Just as a child snuggles into its bed at night and relaxes in the warmth of the blankets, so you come and nestle in My love for you. Sink down, relax and let me take control. Do not be in a hurry to move from this position for you will find the healing there that you need. Let your soul be at rest and abide (stay put) in the experience. Don't be hasty over decisions, or plans, allow the waters to flow over you and soften your heart and motives. Your spiritual eyes have become weary with trying to see through the fog of many emotions. Now is the time to let all that go and rest in My love. I will show you the new pathway you must tread as you awake from your rest. Do not fear complacency. This is ordained of Me. There will be new vigour and direction, but wait for it to come from my Spirit".
'Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.' Matt 11:28

Spiritual Progress!

Habakkuk talks very freely with God. He is troubled and discouraged that the leaders in Judah are oppressing the poor and that these wicked people prosper. Why doesn't God do something about it? he asks. But God replies that He is a God of justice and eventually everyone will be judged and right will prevail. In the meantime He tells Habakkuk to have confidence in God because the just shall live by faith.
How good it is to be open with the Lord and bring our concerns to Him. He is able to take every puzzling thing we bring and turn it to advantage. All things WILL work together for good. Give God time to sort out the dilemma you have discussed with Him. In chapter 3: 17,18 of the book of Habakkuk, he says that he will rejoice in the Lord even though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, and no cattle in the stalls.
It takes humility to read the word of God, to receive it and put it into practice in our daily lives!
'The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army: He makes my feet like hind's feet and will make me to walk (not to stand still in terror, but to walk) and make (spiritual) progress upon my high places (of trouble, suffering, or responsibility)! Hab 3:19 (amp)

A New Season.

God leaves room in His plans for some things to happen spontaneously. Suddenly a rainbow appears in the sky after heavy rain. Suddenly the desert blossoms with flowers after years of dryness. Suddenly a baby smiles. Unexpected things happen which bring a new season in our lives. Suddenly the sun appears from behind the clouds, and suddenly a bird sings. Each day brings unexpected blessings to us. He works everything together for our good.
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rests". Lk 2:13