Song of the Well!

Today I will give you water. Water in abundance. Everlasting water that will quench your thirst and flood your dry soul. Are you thirsty for Me? Then sing! You may not feel like it. It may seem strange to you, but do it. Sing! Allow your innermost being to rise up and petition Me for streams to flow out of you. You do not need people to bless you. You have Me. I will bless and restore your soul.
Where there is no water, where you are in spiritually dry conditions, and all those around you are in unbelief, you can call to Me. I will refresh YOU. Dig your own well. Sing! sing! to it. The water will begin to bubble and rise and then you can move on in the refreshing that will come to you.

'They continued on to Beer, the well where the Lord said to Moses, "gather the people together and I will give them water." Then Israel sang this song: "Spring up O well! Sing about it." Num 21:17 Beer was a place that had involved weeping and mourning for the Israelites.
It was there that they sang the song of the well!

Be Strong!

The Egyptians were pursuing the Israelites and thought they had them cornered at the Red Sea. They were trapped and there was no way forward. It was a dark night of fear and uncertainty. But God in His mercy came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. The Angel of the Lord which had gone before in the form of a cloud moved from before them to behind them, and the cloud appeared as darkness to the Egyptians, but was light to the Israelites Ex 14:20. At the same time God was preparing a way of escape for His people. A strong east wind blew all that night and made the sea dry land. The children of Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land because the waters were like walls on either side of them. When the Egyptians tried to pursue the waters covered them and every one was drowned in the sight of the Israelites Ex 14:29 they saw them dead on the sea shore.
We so often think that we have to work the miracle needed for our deliverance. But God has provided the means whether practical or spiritual to come to our aid. He takes care of His own and has provided for every eventuality. Our problem is that we believe He can do it, but question 'how'. No one would have guessed that the Red Sea would be parted by a strong wind and the people would pass over dry shod. They also saw with their eyes their enemies, who had kept them as slaves for four hundred years, gone before their eyes! Our Moses stretched out His hand on the cross so that we could escape the enemy!
You time of deliverance will come. Do not fear because of the delay. God is working out a better plan for you than had you been delivered sooner. You will see your enemies sinking before you and covered from your sight to trouble you no more. You will have a more powerful testimony because of this. Many will hear it and find the strength to trust through their dark night.

Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.”  Isaiah 35:4

Don't Rush Ahead!

Don't be in a rush to do the will of God! He knows your heart and your willingness. You can afford to give Him time to speak to you over the decisions you are about to make. He does not move in haste, but does often move quickly, when He chooses. Let Him counsell you through different channels.
The quakers of old had four things that had to harmonise before they took important steps in their lives. The first is the Scriptures. God leads us in line with Bible principles. You are likely to come across the same verse, in some way, two or three times at random. It is unlikely, with all the number of verses in the Bible for that to happen. So listen to it and ponder! Then there is what Hannah Whitall Smith called 'sanctified common sense'. When you return to God the gift of common sense that He has given you it becomes 'sanctified'. In other words God won't ask you to do something totally stupid! Then there is a deep inner conviction that grows through prayer. If it is not of God it will fade away after a while. And finally there is godly counsel. Present your leading to friends who you can trust and who hear the voice of God.
When all four things harmonise, are in agreement, it is safe to move on your leading. God has told us that we can ask for wisdom and it is 'wise' to do that! do not rush ahead on a 'hunch' or a word from someone else. Personal prophesy always confirms what God has already told us.

 'Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established'. Prov15:22

Prayer Changes Thing!

It is exciting to see answers to prayer! It makes us realise that God is alive, interested in our pleas, and able to keep His promises. In fact, prayer is vital. Sometimes the answers come in surprising ways. Other times the answers come softly and slowly. But one thing is sure, praying for others involves compassion, and self abasement. It can be hard work praying for other people day by day when we don't get any feedback, or even thanks. But when we do pray we join Jesus in His great high priestly ministry of intercession. To know the power of His resurrection we have to enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. And we can do that through prayer. One day we will see the result of our sacrificial prayer and be amazed! Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, you can pray. And prayer does change things. Someone has said that prayer is the Christian's vital breath. Jesus brought all His petitions to His father. He spent nights on the mountainside because His work in the day was dependant on His life of prayer. His life was one long prayer poured out to God for the world and those around Him. True prayer brings 'action', it calls forth the power of God upon the earth and into the lives of those we pray for. Through prayer we become the answer to others. We become His heart, His hands and His feet, that others might find Life. Through prayer we become Jesus on this earth giving ourselves that others might see what God is like.

'And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends' Job42:10

Discipline your mind!

It is time to give your mind an overhaul! Take some thought about your thoughts! Stop allowing yourself to dwell on imaginary disasters that 'might' happen in your life. There is no need to wallow in morbid thoughts and plans for I have a bright future for you. My plans, says the Lord, are for good and not for your harm. My plans are for your fulfilment and enjoyment, not for sadness and emptiness.
Get rid of the dark imaginings and renounce negative thinking. Discipline your mind again to take hold of My blessings of freedom and love. If you continue to feed on unhelpful thoughts your days will be heavy and unfruitful. I desire you to dance with Me into your future, expecting that I will always provide the grace you need for every situation. It is time to lighten up! leave your baggage behind and let regrets go. You will find that the healing you need will become a reality and sorrow will vanish as a shadow.

'Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ'. 2 Corinth 10:5

Be Honest!

The way to increase and blessings in the Kingdom of God is by using what you have, then God gives you more. You can't ask for more if you are not using fully what you have already been given. God tests our stewardship and promotes us according to what we do with what we have. The water of life has to flow out of our innermost being to stay fresh. One of the key qualities of a Christian has to be their honesty. In speech and action!
'Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?' Lk 16:10,11 God waits to see if our motives are right in serving Him.Then He will bring spiritual and material increase. You cannot serve God and money! Lk 16:13.

God Needs Intercessors!

It is exciting to see answers to prayer! It makes us realise that God is alive, interested in our pleas, and able to keep His promises. In fact, prayer is vital. Sometimes the answers come in surprising ways. Other times the answers come softly and slowly. But one thing is sure, praying for others involves compassion, and self abasement. It can be hard work praying for other people day by day when we don't get any feedback, or even thanks. But when we do pray we join Jesus in His great high priestly ministry of intercession. To know the power of His resurrection we have to enter into the fellowship of His sufferings. And we can do that through prayer. One day we will see the result of our sacrificial prayer and be amazed! Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, you can pray. And prayer does change things. Someone has said that prayer is the Christian's vital breath. Jesus brought all His petitions to His father. He spent nights on the mountainside because His work in the day was dependant on His life of prayer. His life was one long prayer poured out to God for the world and those around Him. True prayer brings 'action', it calls forth the power of God upon the earth and into the lives of those we pray for. Through prayer we become the answer to others. We become His heart, His hands and His feet, that others might find Life. Through prayer we become Jesus on this earth giving ourselves that others might see what God is like.
Will YOU be an Intercessor for God in these end times? He is looking for your prayers; He wants to answer them. Will YOU be part of His work for the coming of the Kingdom and cry out for labourers to be sent into the harvest?

'And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends' Job42:10

I Am Sufficient!

The main problem in your thinking is that you wonder if I am sufficient for you! You question My power to keep you from falling, to uphold and sustain you, to deliver you from fear, to provide for your needs, ALL your needs.To be your God!
You forget that I have chosen you, not you chosen Me. I chose you as my own, My child, My inheritence. It is YOU I want, and it is YOU I will keep. The whole of My will and plans are centred in YOU.
I came to seek for you, to find you when you were lost. I came to be and do everything for you, asking only one thing, that YOU love Me and and put Me first in all things. As you do that by freewill choice, then you give Me permission to reveal more of Myself to you. I am enough, and all sufficient.
I will not force My affections upon you, nor invade your soul without invitation. You have to WANT me, want My will in your life, and want to love Me. I work to win your affections, and I delight to see you delight in My presence.
When I withold conscious feelings of My nearness it is only to strengthen your love for Me and your resolve to keep close. You are strongest when I seem furthest away! Your faith is developed through struggles and trials. And it is the quality of your faith that I am developing in you. YOUR CHARACTER IS VERY IMPORTANT. It is being formed during your time on this earth, so that it may shine in the next, count in the next, and be ready for the new era I am bringing you into. Reign with Me. I am preparing your throne of authority, but you must be ready to take up that place in humility and godliness. I can't have My children with deep flaws in their character for they will not reflect Me.
There is no oportunity in the next life to make a mess of things, like you have done in this kindergarten stage. You will emerge from your crysilis in splendour able to take up your life in freedom and purity.
When you feel that I have forsaken you and I am not able to sustain you, remember this, what I am doing now you will not understand. But you will understand later on because I will reveal it to you. Would it not be better for you to remain faithful now, although you cannot see? Because later on there will be no going back to change things. You can only move forward.

 'He has said, I will never leave you, or forsake you. So that you may boldy say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.' Heb 13:6

Let Go!

There are some things that just have to be left behind. You cannot carry everything, and everyone with you, as you journey along this way. Letting go is not easy. But God is there to help in these difficult decisions. It really is a relief to put things down for the Lord to pick up. Whilst we are worrying and fretting about matters He cannot work on our behalf. The control has to pass from us to God, and we can do that by ceasing to worry. It is only when we abandon all to Him that He is free to attend to it all.
Just empty yourself at His feet. Empty your heart of the good and the bad! Pour it all out and watch Him work. Especially in the area of regret. Don't carry your remorse for things said and done in your relationship with others, or decisions you have made. Maybe you could have done things differently, but it is no guarantee that things would have worked out any better. Some relationships turn sour even though they started well. The only thing left to do is 'Let Go'. You cannot go back and change things. Leave it all to God. He knows how to deal with your problems, and He wants you free of the entanglement.

 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage' Gal 5:1

Provision!!

There is always a place of refuge when you are in the will of God. Elijah had told King Ahab that it would not rain for two years 1 Kings 17: 1-16. This was the word of the Lord. Then he is told to go and hide himself by the brook Cherith. He spends time at this Wadi, and the ravens feed him bread and meat every day, and he drinks from the brook. We will hear from God like Elijah when we are doing His will. He protects and provides. The ravens must have come to the brook and dropped their food whilst they drank, and Elijah picked it up. But when the brook dried up the birds no longer came.
When the source of help dries up it is time to move on. God had already prepared the next provision. This time it involved a human being who provided out of her own need. She shared what she had, expecting to die as her resources had gone. Because of her willingness to give to another human being she and her household had food for many days until the rain came.
God does not always ask us to do logical things! Somehow the act of obedience, whatever that may be, opens a miraculous door of provision. But it happens in response to obedience, not through us trying to manipulate God.
This provision can be in the area of the natural, and the spiritual. There is always a cost to obedience. It is not easy at the time. But there is always the grace to help us take that step. Obedience opens a door and gives us new revelation into the heart of God.

 'Do whatever He tells you' John 2:5

Speak Peace!

Spend some time seeking the Lord. He has some things to say to you that will affect your decisions in the coming weeks. Press through the unbelief that so easily hangs like a cloud over your life and pursue His peace. There are practical issues that you need to put aside for a while so that you can concentrate on Him. Meditate on His word. Bring your requests to Him because He cares about you, about every detail. Off load everything that causes a heaviness on your soul and though nothing seems to be happening, there will be a shifting, and a shaking, and things will fall into place.
'I am bringing you into a new place of Peace. It is deeper than you have known before. There is no end to My Peace. It will heal and soothe and be a balm within you. You need this Peace for the times ahead. Soak in it! Proclaim it within you and without. Speak Peace to every troubled area of your life. Speak blessing and sing spiritual songs. There will be a change!'

 'And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, PEACE BE STILL. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm' Mark 4:39

Don't Give Up Hope!

If you are in perplexity, trials and unusual difficulties, shut up to the right and left, what do you do? God's word to you is  STAND STILL! But you need to listen carefully to the Lord at this time. Despair would whisper in your ear, telling you that you may as well lie down and die, give up. But God would have you take courage and wait, for the victory will come. Don't wish ot die before your time, thinking it better to be with Christ. There is more for you to do, so finish your course.
Cowardice will come and whine to you telling you to retreat, and that it is too difficult being a Christian. That you seem to have more troubles that when you did not know God. But don't listen, stand still for a while and gather new strength, because this season will pass and you need what you have gained for the next season.
Another voice is one that urges you to precipitate something, do something, and that it is a waste of time, or idleness, to stand still. You feel an urge to get something moving to make a way for yourself out of your predicament. But don't act. Wait for the Lord who will open the way and do everything for you.
Presumption boasts and tells you that you should expect a miracle and march straight into the sea because it will open up! it tells you to believe God's word, and get on with it, don't just stand there.
But God is looking for your faith in Him alone. He says, 'stand still', wait in expectancy for further action, new orders will come. Wait patiently for the still small voice, for it will come, and then you will move forward at His time.
God who made the clouds that can cover the sky with ominous darkness, and the storm that stirs up unwanted debris in your life, this God can change the scene in a moment. There are clear skies after the rain and in the clarity you will hear Him say 'go forward'.

 'Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord' Ex 14:13

Growing Up!

There comes a time when you have to accept that you are no longer a child in your walk with God. If He treats you like an adult, trusts you with authority, then you have to behave accordingly. When things seem unsure to you, and you do not know what is happening, running to Him and crying for comfort does not always work.
If you cry 'daddy' daddy' everytime the milk is spilt, you will may not get a response. That is if you are moving into maturity. You have to trust your Father that He knows best and is removing you from creature comforts to strengthen, harden your faith. A plant that has been grown under artificial conditions, in a greenhouse say, needs to be hardened off before it is put out into position in it's place. God cannot do much with 'soft' people, those who wimper and whine at every adverse circumstance. He wants trained soldiers, those whom He can use in battles and will stand their ground.
So He is training you and treats you according to your spiritual experience. That is why He will withdraw His conscious presence for a while. Not because you have grieved Him, but because He is teaching you to stand on your own two feet. Your will is crucial to your usefulness in Kingdom work. You have to 'CHOOSE' His ways whether you like what is happening or not, feel Him close or not. He will not always explain the 'why' of a situation. He just wants you to trust.

 'Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child'. Ps 131:2

A Day at a Time!

Jesus tells us not to take anxious thought about tomorrow. He does not say that we are not to think about tomorrow, make plans, or to pray about the future. But we are not to worry as it is fruitless and unprofitable. None of us can control our circumstances, or add anything to our lives by worrying. It is a habit pattern of thinking that can cause us great distress and halt our progress in life. We are really saying that our heavenly Father does not care about every detail of our lives, when we worry! Has He not said that even the hairs on our head are numbered?
Most of our troubles are imaginary. Our forebodings about the future, our forecasts about what will or might happen are just predictions and unfounded fears. The Lord can, and does deliver from them. So if you are burdened today, bring it all to Jesus, with thanksgiving, because He cares about you. As you discipline yourself to lay the weights down at His feet, so you will experience release and deliverance from the scourge of worry. The thing to concentrate on each day is to put God first in every thing and live righteously in our relationship with Him and with others. As we seek His kingdom first everything else falls into place. Our heavenly Father knows what we need, and will take care of the practical things in our lives. Our job is to seek Him and feed our souls on the spiritual things available to us. What does it profit us to gain the whole world , yet lose our own soul?

 'Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own' Matthew 6:33,34.

God is Faithful!

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 seasons 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

Keep Going!

During my travels in Africa of 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 though, 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 Love!

The people around us need God's love! Not the kind that is sexual, or platonic, but the eternal pure love that never changes in it's quality. We are meant to show that kind of love to others. Not to the same degree as Jesus did, but the same quality. Not the same quantity that Jesus had, for He gave His life on the cross for the whole of mankind. But we are meant to love one another as He loved us, with the same purity. So each person that comes our way, every relationship that we have and all our prayers are meant to display that pure quality of love from God.
We need God's love. It is so easy to forget He loves us unconditionally, through and through, and will never reject us or leave us alone. If we do not believe He loves us, then it is impossible for us to love others with His love. That love fills our hearts by the Holy Spirit, freely given to all who will receive. We just need to receive that love daily and enjoy giving it away! God's love flows like a golden river ever outwards from Himself. It is not hard work for Him to love the world, the peoples and His creation.
Let it flow into your heart today. The flow can be blocked through unforgiveness, resentment, or anger. But running to the Father in childlike need, saying sorry, letting Him pick us up, sets the river flowing again. Then it freely flows into us and out of us, and is not hard work!

'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.........Love never fails..............Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.'
1 Corinth 13: 4, 8, 13

Rest in My Love!

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