He Strengthens!

Temptations will come! If you want to live a godly, righteous life, obedient to the Lord, then you will be tempted. Often a season of temptation precedes a season of great blessing. Just as Jesus was led into the wilderness, after His baptism, to be tempted of the devil. So we are often led by God through a time of testing. But God never tempts us, though He allows us to pass through sometimes dire and unusual temptations.
After Jesus had been tempted He returned from the wilderness experience in the power of the Holy Spirit and was anointed for His work on earth. And likewise, we receive a new anointing of the Holy Spirit when we resist the lies and temptations of the devil.
Temptation is NOT sin. Though the temptations can be so subtle that we think that we are sinning because sometimes they are so awful, and they come in a form that mimics our own thoughts. Sometimes they come in the form of a throw back from our past. Something that once was sin in our lives, but has been cleansed and forgiven through the Blood of Jesus, can seem to return and we think we have fallen. It is then that Scripure is so helpful. Soaking the mind, and heart in the word of God keeps us from slipping into the devil's trap. He will use anything to try to seperate us from God and His Word and lead us into unbelief.
The whole process is allowed by God to strengthen us, to increase our faith, and to show the devil that we are truly, in word and deed children of Righteousness. Our faith has to be tested and tried! Endure what you pass through, as a soldier of Christ. Be strong, stand firm in the faith, and surely in due time, it will pass, when the purpose has been accomplished. Do not give way to it, because then it becomes sin because we have acted on it. Then you can go and strengthen your brethren, for we all pass through tseasons of temptation.

' There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to; but will with the temptation also make a way to eascape, that you may be able to bear it'. 1 Corinth 10:13

God of Miracles!

When the children of Israel were in the wilderness they questioned whether God could provide a table for them to eat from. Water gushed out of the rock, but could He also provide bread? Their expectations could not rise above their past experiences, they had seen the water but not yet the bread. When they thought of God doing something new they limited Him. In every honest prayer there are two sides at work. One is your little, dark, human thoughts of what you need and what you would like God to do. The other is God's great heart with it's infinite and divine purposes of blessing you.
Let us choose to trust the God of miracles! He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think Eph 3:20 Keep your eyes on Him. Keep trusting in Him. Today you are nearer to the answer,so don't give up hoping!

He Delivers!

Jesus told His disciples that in Him they would have peace, but in this world they would have trouble. "But", He says " Take heart", cheer up, do not be afraid, "I have overcome the world" Jn 16:33. He is telling them that because He has done it, they can do it too! There is a WAY through it all, there is an end to it. We cannot overcome by running away. There comes a time when we have to face all that is against us, and STAND in faith, trusting that He who has overcome will give us the strength to overcome too! Like father, like son! We have the same family trait as Jesus, if we believe in Him and have His Spirit within us. He leads us in triumph, and we are more than conquerers. We are able to do all that He requires of us through faith in Him. Feed your soul on His word. It brings a boldness and tenacity that can come no other way. Multitudes have gone before, experiencing all that you go through, and have prevailed because of their undying love for Jesus.

'Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all' Psalm 34:19.

Don't Lose Heart!

You are focusing on your problems, and so they become heavy. Don't take yourself so seriously. Lighten up and enjoy the things that you can enjoy. If you continue to dwell on your physical and spiritual problems they will just grow larger and you will feel trapped by them. I know your worst fears, your little niggling anxieties, and your imaginary concerns. As you bring ALL these things to Me, I will begin to deal with them and show you what action you should take, if any.
Hiding yourself away will not lighten your load. Rather it will exaggerate it! You are suffering from over anxiety which is causing you to see everything as a mountain to get over. These things are not mountains to Me. I can change your mindset, if you will yield all to Me and not withdraw from My presence.
Curb the desire to run away, to opt out, to dig a hole and lay in it. Instead use these things as a means of receiving My grace, which is sufficient for your every need. Do not sink into shame, or self pity. The way out is 'up'. Come to Me again. I wait to help you.

' Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal'.2 Corinth 4:16-18

Trust in Him!

Who are we trusting to help us today? In what are we putting our faith? some trust in chariots! They put their hope in winning the Lottery, making good investments, buying larger houses, and bigger cars. Some put their trust in horses, the company they work for, their boss who might give them promotion, the friends who will help them get to where they want to go in life! But trusting in these things can bring your downfall. Just as the Egyptians chased the Israelites across the red sea and got stuck in the mud, thinking they were powerful because of the iron and flesh they had, so putting confidence in wordly things can bog us down. Eventually they rust and die away!
God knows that we need help, things, finances, and advancement. But His way for us is that we seek His kingdom and righteousness first. Our trust must be in the Lord He is the only unchanging One, faithful One, honest One and all powerful One. He never fails.

'Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God' Ps 20:7.

Flap Your Wings!

 It takes patience to wait on the Lord. Being still takes practise and perseverance. But as we get into that place of stillness our strength is renewed by God. He gives us His strength Is 40:31. Then we need to flap our 'wings' of faith and trust. We can rise above our circumstances that worry us daily if we put our trust in God who is Almighty, the Everlasting one, who never faints or grows weary. But it is not 'magic', we actually have to DO something, that is put our trust, by choice, in God mercy and goodness towards us. And not in anything else!
Faith is the currency of heaven. We receive everything from God by faith. By believing in His absolute goodness and power toward us. When I go into a shop to purchase something I use money, and expect to get the goods I have paid for. So likewise when I go to God I use my faith in Him, to receive all that I need for that day. Just a day at a time!! not the whole of my life in one lump! Just for each day. It is easier that way because life can get very complicated if I am worrying too far ahead!
So TODAY use your wings of faith and trust and see what God will do for you, and who He will BE to you. Having a close, loving relationship with someone wonderful is what we all need. And that someone is the all loving, all powerful, kind and gentle Jesus. He does care, He does want things to change in your life, He is able to help you, so flap your wings!

'But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint'. Isaiah 40:31

He Does Not Lie!

When the angel came to Mary and announced that she was highly favoured by God and would give birth to Jesus, she was 'greatly troubled.' She wondered, and replied "how will this be?" because she was a virgin. It is easy to look at the 'how' when God speaks to us, either through our convictions, or through His word, or through His servants. It was a natural question that Mary needed answered, and she got her answer to it.
The angel said that "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." That is how God does His works. And all we need to do is submit to His word, believe what He says to us, and receive the Holy Spirit. The angel told her that nothing is impossible with God. And she believed it!
We could think that if an angel came and spoke to us concerning God's will for our lives, then we would know it was true and then believe! But we are in the Church era, where we walk by faith, not by sight. Maybe He will send an angel, but more likely He is asking us to trust His word, and believe it. Even Mary had to surrender to the word of God for her. She said " may it be as you have said". Her hearts attitude was one of submission, and she said "yes" to what God was asking of her. God did the work, He performed His will in her life, she just had to accept it. Listen to God! There are many voices in the world that will cause us to doubt. But if God has spoken to you, believe it, habng in there and keep trusting. There will be fulfilmentt the right time!

'Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished'. Luke 1:45

Sound Judgement!

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. Fear pushes us to hasty decisions, and causes us to panic and try to keep control of our lives. 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 brings 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, and do not walk into unsure situations. Avoid evil where you can, and test all things. Some things seem good and right at the time, but later on reveal shaky foundations. The enemy would like to trip us up and can present us with a set of actions that 'seem' good. But they are arranged to lure us away from what God had planned for us.

 'God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind' 2 Tim 1:7.

A New Day!

In the book of Lamentations the writer speaks of the desolation of Jerusalem, the beloved city. He says it is solitary and lonely. It was once full of people and he likened it to a widow, who weeps bitterly in the night Lam 1:1,2 (amp).
He urges the people in captivity to 'recall and have hope'. Lam 3:21. He says 'we are still alive'. Because of God's mercy and lovingkindness, and His tender compassions that do not fail they are not totally consumed. 'His mercies are new every morning: great is your faithfulness' 3:23
The Lord is good to all those who wait on Him. Today is a new day. Look for the Lord's love and His word to you today. He is speaking in quiet ways through a still small voice. Maybe you have wept through the night, feeling there is no hope. But God is saying 'today is a new day, because I am faithful I will not abandon you, or leave you alone. It is not in my Nature to forsake those who call on Me. I have heard your cries and will respond'

'I will never leave you, nor forsake you' Heb 13:5

Our Helper

When we don't know how to pray, or what to do, or how to proceed, there is Someone just waiting to help us. He is ready to be called upon every moment of every day. What problems we cause for ourselves because we don't avail ourselves of His help. The Holy Spirit is our Helper in every situation. He gives us boldness and power with God. He gives us access into the very presence of the Father. He prays for us with groans and sighs that words cannot express. He makes loving intercession in us for all the saints. It is our highest privilege as priests to be intercessors. How amazing that our prayers can move Almighty God! we can pray for people thousands of miles away; people we have never met, and God hears our hearts and answers our petitions. Ask for the Holy Spirit to help. He teaches us how to pray. He reminds us of the things that God has told us, so that we can use them in our intercessions. We cannot pray without Him. He can go where we cannot go, do what we cannot do, attend to the very root of a situation, all because we ask! Don't be put off just because you cannot see the answers to your petitions. One day you will see, and marvel at all God has accomplished through your prayers. And you may think "I wish I had prayed more". All the time you pray, you are developing a relationship with your heavenly Father and discovering that He cares about you and your concerns. And discovering that He can only change things through your prayers.

'But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you' Jn 14:26

He Needs You!

During my travels in Africa over twenty two years, one of the things that has stuck in my mind is the amount of unfinished buildings. I have seen little order and much chaos, but now things are slowly improving. Projects had been started, but the builder had run out of resources, gone away, died, changed his mind! The scaffolding, bricks, dust, mud, weeds on the land cry out 'who will finish me?'
The Apostle Paul was motivated by the desire to finish his course with joy, and to fulfill his ministry given by God. He had to keep working because that is why He was on this earth. At the end of his life he was able to say that he had fought a good fight, had finished his course and had kept the faith 2 Tim 4:7.
We are here on this earth to finish the work that Jesus started in His earthly ministry. God always completes what He started. He always provides the help needed to see things through. He doesn't abdicate His throne! But we need to make sure that we are actually doing what God has called us to do. Thing often go awry because God was not the initiator in the first place. But as we co-operate with Him, together we can bring His order into the chaos and change things, and create with Him. We are co-workers with Christ. He needs our input. Do not let anyone put you down, or stop your plans that have been given to you by God. The devil will use people to discourage you, block you, destroy you. God will use people to help you and come alongside you, and He will stand with you as you are tested and tried.

'Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completetion of it, according to your means. 2 Corinth 8:11

God's Purpose.

There is a whole new phase of ministry and work that is open to you. Be careful to leave behind the things of the past. Especially the good things. Because what I am doing is new. The enemy would like you to think that this new phase is an extension of what you have done before, because it will lull you into settling for less than what I desire. But it is not an extension. This is totally different though there may be similarities to what has gone before. But the likeness is only superficial. It is important that you grasp that what I am taking you into is a whole new dimension. Everything that you have learned through your past experiences will come into play and enhance your discernment, wisdom, understanding, and spiritual awareness. Though it will be revealed slowly at first it will soon gather momentum and climax into a prophetic work that is part of the move of My power and glory at the end of the ages.
I am bringing My people from all nations to join together and surge forward in the display of signs and wonders that will eclipse all that has gone before. This is why I have dealt so severely with you, disciplining and shaping your character, both physically and spiritually. The stretch of your journey ahead will be a 'stretch of faith', but it will be the most fruitful adventure yet! I have had to make sure that you will not fail the task. Rest assured that you have been well prepared. Though the assignments are weighty, I have equipped you well. Do not project your thoughts into the future, just take each step as it comes and you will find that My grace meets you and has opened a path for you. I will be with you in this, working alongside you as you labour for Me.

'Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them  and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it' Mark 16:20

He Cares.

The sin in the world is great; the burdens are many; the pain is never-ending, and the sufferings of men, women and children are heartbreaking. We can only do what we can to help others in their distress. It is easy to become over burdened with the confusion of the nations, the pains of our loved ones and those around us. Sometimes things are so heavy that we do not even see the sunshine, or the flowers, or hear the birdsong. But, take heart! Jesus bore all this worlds agony, every bit of it. For you and for me. He took the weight of sin, the destruction of sickness, the evils of satan, and bore it in His own body. Death gives way to resurrection through Him.
If you are sad today, and have weights and shadows heaped upon you. Look to Jesus. He feels your pain and will help you through and bring you out into a place of peace if you trust Him. He won't let you down, and will lift you up again. He knows how to encourage the downcast; to befriend the lonely; and bring you into life everlasting, where there is no more death, tears, or loneliness. Don't carry it all yourself when there is someone who will carry it for you.

'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 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.'

Count Your Blessings!

The most important time to praise God is when we don't feel like it! Give thanks to Him for He is GOOD. He never fails. He is always merciful and kind. He washes away our sin and heals our wounded souls. Praise Him for the wonder of His creation. Praise Him for the new day; the trees and flowers; the birds and animals. Bless His name today! Bless His handiwork; your friends and family; your health and strength. Praise Him that you can breathe; Praise Him for the sunshine and light. Praise Him for loving you, just as you are!
As you give thanks, absorb His love into your being, just as you soak up the sunshine on a beautiful day. Even if your day is not beautiful, still praise Him, it will change, for all things change.The frost and the snow do not last forever, eventually they have to give way to the Spring. There is an old chorus that says 'count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!'

'This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it'. Ps 118:24

Store God's Word!

 I had a few troubled hours in the night recently. Have you noticed that things loom dark and large in the early hours? I though of Jesus needing to slip out at night, away from His disciples and talk to His Father about some decisions and matters weighing heavily upon Him. So I was encouraged that He also had sleepless nights and knew the pressure I felt. I tried to pray but it did not seem to help! Eventually that verse ' Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart' Col 3:15 came to my mind. So I put my worries on hold and started to think of scriptures that pursuaded me that He was close even if I did not feel it. Then came 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly' Col 3: 16 to my thoughts, and it is so true, because I was able to draw out of my mind verses and promises that I had put there over the years. So I meditated on these.
Slowly I felt less stressed and then found that I was able to tell Jesus all about my problems and asked Him to show me a way through as I had some decisions to make. Eventually I went to sleep and felt at peace knowing that He was now responsible for all that I had committed to Him. Next morning a thought slipped into my mind about how to solve this situation, and without the confusion that had been blinding me. I tackled it and it worked!
Make sure that you have a good storehouse in your heart. Store up for yourselves God's word. Even if you read it and it seems to do nothing for you. One day the Holy Spirit will bring back to your mind the scriptures you have read.

Wisdom to Speak.

Esther was raised into the position of queen for a specific purpose. God worked through human circumstances to bring her into an influential place. Her heart had been prepared and she was equipped for the task that lay before her, the deliverance of God's people. Above all things she was abandoned to God (Mordecai, symbolic of the Holy Spirit) and said "If I perish, I perish".
As we are obedient to the Lord He places us in positions where we can influence people and circumstances around us. Some things we cannot change, but there are things that we can change. Focus on the things you are in a position to change, and don't fret over the things you cannot change. There is a time to speak out and not remain silent! Your words may be just the very thing that effects change for the good. If you remain silent when God wants you to speak and act, He will raise up someone else to do the job. But you will be in lack because of it. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom in your current dilemma. Ask Him to lead over the timing and content of your words. Timing is important.

'If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this' Esth 4:14.

Unfailing Love

'I trust in You, O Lord; I say, "You are my God" My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me. Let Your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love'.Psalm 31: 14-16. Let us rest content in knowing that our times are in His hands......and He never drops anything! And no-one can snatch us out of our Father's hand Jn 10:28. Let us patiently wait for the Lord, He is never too late. Occupy yourself with doing good to others as you wait for His visitation. He will come! He has not forgotten you.

'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! Isaiah 49:15.

Don't Struggle!

You are going in the right direction, so just keep moving forward doing what you know is right. Soon you will turn a corner and find that the things that caused you confusion and troubled you have all been staightened out, put in their place, and ordered neatly! In the meantime, get on with attending to matters that have dragged you down, and need putting in order. You do what you can, and God will attend to the greater part and work on your behalf. Don't struggle over it. Ask the Lord to motivate you and show you how to go about putting things in order so that when you turn that corner you are ready for your next phase of life. The enemy would like to convince you that you have taken a wrong turn somewhere, but it is a lie. Just keep going and let His peace guide you. If you are not sure about a course of action, wait. God will either open the door wider or close it tight shut. Much of life is mundane and ordinary. Don't give in to the temptation to have a bit of 'excitement'. Let the Lord come into your daily round of things and fill them with His glory. Don't forget that Jesus took a towel and got down on His knees to wash the disciples feet. Serve others lovingly, not grudgingly, and you will find that God is close to you!

'I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron' Isaiah 45:2

New Paths

Expect Me to work and bring you through into new pathways. Some things have overwhelmed you and therefore you have thought it was impossible for improvement. But as you trust Me I will answer faith that does not waver. This is a time for you to stay strong in faith. Though the testing has continued over many months, you will soon see the benefits. You will need this stable, unwavering faith for your future assignments. So refuse discouragement, and don't give up, because the rewards of this time will amaze you. Don't fret over imaginery things! Let the peace of God rule in your heart each day. Rest assurred that I am attending to your requests. You have proved faithful in your earnest petitions. They have not gone unheeded. Even now the answers are winging their way towards you. The resistance in the unseen spiritual realm has been great. But I am on your side. All will be according to my timing and purpose. Your best years are yet to come because I have been refining you and shaping your character to endure to the end. I will lift the veil on your thinking and you will understand that what I do in your life and circumstances has an eternal perspective. In the school of the Spirit some lessons need to be learned often when you are unresponsive, or procrastinate. Be eager to seek Me and learn of Me! Remember that I am Almighty.

'The testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.' James1:3,4.

God's Way!

'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven' Ecc 3:1. It takes 9 months for a baby to develop in it's mother's womb and then be born. The gestation time for an elephant to be carried in the womb is 22 months!
Everything has an allotted time. If we try to force changes outside of that time schedule God has planned then there are problems. It takes time for character to be formed. It takes time for habit patterns to change, and time to mature relationships.
We can't know God in a hurry! it takes time to BE with Him, SIT with Him, LISTEN to Him, TALK to Him, ENJOY His presence, and time to KNOW Him. In fact it takes a lifetime!
Don't try to change the season of life you are in. Let it happen in God's time, in His way, by His design. If you try to push it yourself it will lead to frustration. God's timing happens in peace. Look into some of your habit patterns. Maybe they need adjusting. Don't project yourself into the future. Allow each day to do it's work in your life. Concentrate on developing your friendship with God. Take control of your haphazard thought patterns. All this takes time!

Run to God!

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

Don't Look Back!

Jesus was talking to a group of people. They were making excuses for not following Him. One wanted to do something else first; another wanted to visit his family before following Jesus Lk 9:59-61. It is easy to find reasons for not being obedient to Him 'now', and want to do it later!
God never asks anything of us that we cannot accomplish. All is possible. Saying 'goodbye' is not easy, but eventually we will all leave this world; for as it has been said 'we bring nothing into the world and we take nothing when we leave'. So it is good to hold things and people 'lightly'.
We have to keep looking forward, towards our heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. This is not 'make believe', it is the only way to live out a righteous life on earth. This world and life is not all there is. There is more. One day God will make a new heaven and new earth and populate it with His new people. A whole new creation will come into existence and His overcomers will oversee it all. There is a resurrection that will take place. We will have new bodies, without sickness and pain. We will meet loved one's again. Let us encourage one another with the truth that there is a future and a hope for us, a heavenly home waiting for us, service and work in the new kingdom, and a bliss and glory that will amaze us! it helps us to keep going!

'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.' Lk 9:62

Walk in Freedom

You are nearer your goal than when you started, so give it your best and keep going. The seeds that you have planted will come to fruition at the right time. Ok! it seems that nothing is happening and no one is looking, or seeing the amount of effort you are putting in. But God watches and says that a reaping is guaranteed. Your life touches many others and the quality of your faith shows endurance. It is your gaining ground each day, bit by bit, that speaks of a righteous life in the sight of God. And it is Him that you are doing it for. He is looking! You shall reap what you have sown, and more than you have sown, because all will multiply. That which you have done in secret will be rewarded openly and God will be honoured because of it. God will pour out His mercy on your life as you come to Him. You have been tested so that all will see your willingness to follow on in spite of resistance. The enemy will retreat before your eyes and the problems that have worn you down will fade like the morning mist. You are entering a season of plenty after your lean years. Enjoy it wisely and use your time and resources to help others in need. The prison door has been opened for you. Walk out in freedom a step at a time.

 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up' Gal 6:9.