Revealer of Mysteries

Day 118
There is so much more for you to know -- so much you do not understand. The great human tendency is to force everything to fit into the neat confines of the mind. You must understand that the human intellect, will and emotions are created things. How could the Creator be contained in, or controlled by, something He created?

It's all about control, isn't it? Micro-management. If you can manage your world (and everything in it) according to the way you know it should be, then all will be well. Isn't that so?

No -- it is not. The Lord who created and maintains all the heavens and the earth can take a thing of horrific darkness and transform it into radiant life. Only your Creator has the power to do that. Too many things are beyond your control. But nothing is beyond Me. All things are under my feet. Will you relinquish control? If you do, I will be the Revealer of your mysteries.

Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. -- Daniel 2:27-28

We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. -- Romans 4:17 [The Message]

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." -- John 8:12

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king." -- Daniel 2:19-23

Forks in the Road

Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, FL

Day 117
Enlarge the borders of your existence. Expand the sphere of your influence. Are there more possibilities than you have considered? Have you seen your world from the birdseye view? How many directions can you go? Which direction is best? Is there a path you haven't seen or thought about?

I know every path. I see every possibility. I see every ending -- dead-ends and eternal ones.

Will fear keep you anchored to familiar paths? Will you follow a worldly route, planned and calculated by human reasoning? Will you be drawn to take a risk to forge a path that couuld fulfill your selfish ambitions? Will you strike out on a random road for adventure, guided by "luck"? Or will you hear my voice behind you and be led in the Everlasting Way?

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God. -- Philippians 1:9-11

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. -- Colossians 2:6-8

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." -- Isaiah 30:21

Get Real!

Day 116
What you see with your eyes and hear with your ears, and everything you experience through your physical senses, is temporary -- none of it will last. Enjoy the good things, for every good and perfect gift comes from Me. But do not hang onto these things, do not trust in these things, and do not go after them. Enjoy, and let them go, because the things you cannot see are what you must go after.

My kingdom, in this age, and to the physical senses, is invisible. But to those who are born of my Spirit, and who walk in my Spirit, it is real and very present. Open your spiritual senses, and exercise them to be more fully aware of things eternal. For your real life is hidden with Christ in God, and you are seated with Him in heavenly places. Ask my Holy Spirit to reveal Me and my kingdom as you prayerfully study my word, and store up for yourself eternal treasure by walking it out through this life.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. -- James 1:17

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. -- Matthew 6:31-33

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. -- 2 Corinthians 4:18

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. -- Hebrews 5:14

Let's Talk

Day 115
Who has been having conversations with you? Whom have you been listening to? Are you sure? God knows every conversation you have, and He knows every word that is spoken to you and the source behind it. Do you?

The Lord knew the discussion that Eve had with the devil in Eden. He hears every conversation we are engaged in. Close your ears to the voice of the enemy, and cut him off with the word of God, like Jesus does (See Luke chapter 4).

When your mind is speaking, or when another person is speaking, does it line up with the word of God? Check it out. Don't be passive about it.

If you desire in your heart to do something, and you know it pleases the Lord, a voice of discouragement may say that you can't do it. But the voice of your Lord says that you can do all things through Christ, who strengthens you. Which conversation will you be engaged in?

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. -- 2 Corinthians 11:3

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. -- 1 Corinthians 10:13

For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. -- Hebrews 2:18

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. -- Philippians 4:12-13

The Power of Agreement

Day 114
Wherever there is agreement, power is increased. What are you agreeing with? Who are you agreeing with? Agree with negativity, and it will be increased in your life. Agree with the lies of your adversary, and he will have more influence over you. Agree with the Word of God, and it will be manifested wherever you are in harmony with it. If you think my words, pray my words, speak my words, and do my words, my power will flow through you more and more.

I am looking for open doors for the power of my word -- the power of the Lord Jesus Christ -- to flow into the earth. This is the power of eternal life -- the life of the Son of God, who loves you and gave himself for you. All He is, all He has done, and is doing, is available to you. Agree with every word He says. Think it, pray it, speak it, do it! Do you agree?

"Look!” the Lord said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!" -- Genesis 11:6

"Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! Does not my word burn like fire?” says the Lord. “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?" -- Jeremiah 23:28-29

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. -- Matthew 18:19

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. -- 1 Corinthians 1:10

Wind in Your Sails?

Day 113
When the winds of adversity blow, hoist up your sails. This is an opportunity for Me to show myself strong. Face into the wind. I've got your back. Always keep moving forward with Me, when movement is necessary. I will let you know. But you have to be listening. Especially when other winds are howling, you must have your heart trained to hear my voice.

I know how to take hold of the forces that appear to be raging against you, to turn them, arrange them and harness them to work in your favor. Everything must bow to my plans. Everything that does not will be blown away.

How willing are you to yield to my works within you? Will you be built up and let your life be sculpted by the wind of my Spirit? Or will you be blown away?

He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. -- Psalm 104:2-4

The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. -- John 3:8

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -- Romans 8:28

Impossible?

Day 112
Does it seem impossible to you that I will fulfill the promises I have given you? Do you think the promises you have seen in my word are not for you? Where is the place that I cannot work? Where will my promises not be fulfilled? Wherever there is doubt and unbelief. My word will always accomplish what I have sent it for, but it will always happen in the places where there is faith.

Is there a place of poverty? Believe my word, and I will bring provision there. Is there a place of sickness? Believe Me, and my word will bring healing there. Are you in a place of bondage and imprisonment? Believe and agree with my word,and I will set the captives free. Are you staring some kind of death in the face? Do not doubt what I say. Only believe, and I will breathe resurrection life into that dead thing.

Is fear pressing in on you to overpower and paralyze you? Believe and receive my perfect love for you, and you will rise up as an overcomer in Christ Jesus.

And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief. -- Matthew 13:58

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God"? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. -- Isaiah 40:21-31

Majestic Spiral Galaxy NGC 4414 - NASA

I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me? -- Jeremiah 32:27

While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?" But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, "Do not be afraid any longer, only believe." -- Mark 5:35,36

Follow-Through

Day 111
Finish what you start. Don't allow yourself to be distracted from following through. Keep getting back to center. Keep in the front of your mind the things I have told you to do. They are clear and simple. I will never tell you too much. I do and say everything on purpose. My purposes are always good.

At least once a day, gather up all the fragmented things: all the silly, frustrating, insulting, oppressive things that are hurled at you throughout the day. Some of them stick to you. Some of them fall at your feet and some of them tangle you up. Pick them all up, and deliberately throw them onto Me. Release them. If you don't, they will pile up and keep you from finishing what I have given you.

If you give all the fragmented things to Me, and let them go, I will blow them away. Then stick with Me, hearing my voice, until you are back on top of it all again. Then you will see clearly and be enabled to follow through.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. -- Hebrews 10:35-39

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it). -- 1 Peter 5:6-11 [AMP]

Power Source

Mt. Ararat (NASA)

Day 110
I am the source of all energy -- the Power Source. You cannot find true power for living apart from Me. I have a limitless supply. It flows forever. If you are living, acting, working, thinking, speaking out of your own human power, you will wear yourself out and become used up.

Tap into my power that is within you, if you have been born of the Spirit. Keep feeding the deposit of my Spirit that is in you, with my word, with direct communication with Me, and with the fellowship of true believers.

My Spirit is a deep well within you, capable of holding all my power. Fill it up with my word, by intimate fellowship and communion with my Holy Spirit. Energy will abound.

Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God's Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God. Is it not obvious to you that persons who put their trust in Christ (not persons who put their trust in the law!) are like Abraham: children of faith? It was all laid out beforehand in Scripture that God would set things right with non-Jews by faith. Scripture anticipated this in the promise to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed in you." So those now who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham, who lived by faith—this is no new doctrine! -- Galatians 3:2-9

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God." -- Revelation 19:1

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. -- Ephesians 3:20,21

Say the Word

Day 109
Simplify your life. Sit in my presence, release all of your tension, and soak in the cleansing, purifying waters of my word. Find the scriptures I am speaking into your life each day. There is a new word every day. I will keep building on what you have allowed Me to establish in you until now. Only don't let it be watered down or washed away by other, contaminated waters. Let only my word flow through your mind. Stop the flow of any ungodly word.

Paint Creek, North Carolina

When you hear my words for you today, let them flow through your mind, into your heart, to purify your heart and build your spirit up. Ask my Holy Spirit, Who is in you, to quicken and attach my word to your heart. Then you will be empowered to live it out.

Then speak these words of mine out loud over your life and your situations. Speak them aloud in prayer, with thanksgiving to Me. Speak them out loud as my blessing over your life and over your acivities, and praise and thank Me that these words of mine are being made reality in you as you walk in my paths today.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. -- 1 Peter 5:7 [NLT]

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. -- Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT]

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. -- 2 Corinthians 10:5

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. -- Isaiah 50:4

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. -- Acts 4:29-31

Don't Be Frustrated -- Be Filled

Day 108
Every time an issue brings up in you some level of irritation, that is a direct indication that you need to come talk with Me. When something or someone enters your little sphere of influence and stirs things up -- you start to feel off balance, on edge, at a loss for words -- even threatened -- you must immediately move toward Me.

I am your Father -- your loving heavenly Father, your eternal, perfect Father of love. No one else knows how to be a father like I am your Father. Only true sons of mine can learn to be real fathers. Forget earthly fatherhood! Come and know my Fatherhood. Run to Me, and grab hold of Me when anything is bothering you. At the first sign of confusion, stress, anxiety, frustration, run to your Father. Then you will see Me diffuse the situation. I will hold you above it, because I am above all things, and you will be with Me. I will pour in my peace, my joy, and my love, and you will not be frustrated. You will be filled with Me.

When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations [comfort, compassion and solace] delight my soul. -- Psalm 94:19

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. -- Hebrews 4:16 [AMP]

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. -- Matthew 6:26, 28, 29

Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -- Isaiah 41:10

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?" Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. -- Psalm 4:6-8

Something New

Day 107
What are you waiting for? What are you looking for? What are you looking at? Are you tired of the same old, same old? So am I. But I am waiting on you. I wait on you a whole lot more than you wait on Me. Instead of waiting on Me, why do you wade in the muck of the same old? Yesterday is gone! Tomorrow holds the possibility of every promise I speak to you. But the key is today. The key is in your hand. What does my word tell you to do today? Do not harden your heart -- do not let it be hardened by sin's deceitfulness -- do not be kept from entering God's rest because of unbelief. Unbelief stays my hand and keeps me from moving. I will not live where there is unbelief. I live and move where there is faith.

Today: Believe. Today: Take hold of my promise to you. Today: Begin to speak and believe the new things I want to do in you and in everything you touch. You will receive my gift of faith when you wait upon Me and hear what the Spirit is saying to you -- for your situation. I have put you in situations, because I want to move in them through you. I am bringing my kingdom to the earth. It comes through you. I flow through people's faith. That's the way I have set it up. Where is your faith? Do you see it in my word? What do you see? What do you say?

So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.'" See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. -- Hebrews 3:7-13, 19

Now on the final and most important day of the Feast, Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, If any man is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. -- John 7:37-38 [AMP]

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. For by [faith—trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. -- Hebrews 11:1-3, 6 [AMP]

Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new; now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. -- Isaiah 43:18-19

Feed your Faith

Day 106
Have you lost your appetite? Feel sluggish? Tired? Limp? Useless? Hopeless? Like who cares? Get up and eat. A table is prepared for you right where you are -- in the presence of your enemies. Pressures from without and negative thoughts from within, working on you to shape your attitudes and rule you through your emotions -- these are your adversaries. Rise up in their presence and eat.


Feed your faith. Eat my Word. Drink my living water. Take communion often. It is a prophetic external act that tells your spirit to feed on Me. I am Spirit. I am life. Don't eat what your enemy is setting before you. I have prepared the meal and set the table that you are to eat from.

Eat my Word -- Don't just look at it. Feed on it. Pick up bites and handfuls of it. Put it inside and digest it. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Agree with it. Speak out loud the words of mine that are revelation and rhema to you. This word is the active reality of my Presence in your life. Don't just sit there and stare. Feed your faith!

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." -- 1 Kings 19:3-5

You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. -- Psalm 23:5-6 [MSG]

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. -- Colossians 3:2, 3, 15, 16

Press On

Royal Gorge

Day 105
Never give up. Never give in to the enemy. Never let go of Me. I am the Rock. I have set your feet. Stand firm to the end. The winds of change are blowing. Seasons come and go. Learn to move with Me. Don't be afraid. But keep yourself firmly planted - smack in the middle of Me.

The greatest work you do is to press in to Me. It is my work to arrange circumstances. It is my work to bring pressure to move the hearts of people. Keep pressing in to Me, ever upward, ever onward.

I am taking you places. I am tearing down walls. I am changing hearts. I am building a great kingdom. Move with Me, not against Me. Stand still when I hover. Move immediately with Me when I move. How will you know? Press in to Me.

When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. -- Ezekel 1:19-21

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. -- Psalm 40:2

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. -- 1 Corinthians 15:58

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. -- Proverbs 21:1

So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth. -- Hosea 6:3

Get it Straight

Day 104
What's not lining up in your life? Are there kinks? Are there cramped places? Are there crooked, thorn-covered paths? Is there rough terrain with potholes and sinkholes? Quicksand? Dust storms? Swamps and muck? Are you having trouble navigating through?

You must find out if these are manifestations of your not being in obedience to Me. How can you know this? There are some pockets of it that you already know about. Are you asking for my grace to be increased in you so that you can completely obey Me? Are you humbled before Me?

There are some pockets of disobedience in you that you are not conscious of. How will you see them? They are darkness. You need more light. I am the light of the world. I can light up everything that is worldly and give you sight. You must step into the light and remain there until your vision has adjusted and you see what I am saying to you. Don't shrink back from my light.

The way of the sluggard is overgrown with thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him], but the way of the righteous is plain and raised like a highway. -- Proverbs 15:19 [AMP]

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." -- Matthew 3:1-2; Isaiah 40:3-6

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low. You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light. -- 2 Samuel 22:26-29

But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. -- Hebrews 10:39

Who Overwhelmingly Conquers?

Day 103
The ones who put their trust in Me -- these are the ones I will keep safe.
The ones who build their lives upon the Rock -- these are the ones I will keep stable in the midst of the raging storms.
The ones who set their hope in Me -- these are the ones I will carry on eagles' wings to the top of my holy mountain, above the strife.
The ones who fix their eyes on Jesus are those who will walk on water through the middle of sea squalls.
The ones who pitch their tents and hunker down in the shadow of my presence -- my secret place of prayer and complete submission to Me -- these are the ones I will keep from harm; these are the ones who will trample over the great lion and the serpent and live with Me forever.
The ones whose hearts are devoted to Me are the ones for whom I will show myself strong.
I'm looking. I'm waiting. I'm watching. Where are you?

This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: "I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction, but I will rescue you from those you fear so much. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken!” -- Jeremiah 39:16-18

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. -- Matthew 7:24-25

You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. -- Exodus 19:5

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. -- Matthew 14:28-29

If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the Lord, who is my refuge--then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. -- Psalm 91:9, 10, 13

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong in behalf of those whose hearts are blameless [fully committed] toward Him. -- 2 Chronicles 16:9a

Full

Day 102
Be in step with the Spirit; stay in touch with my word.
Keep pressing ever onward, in the mercies of your Lord.
Push aside all things that hinder, until only I remain.
Full of everything you long for; you have everything to gain.

Look up, press on, push into my heart.
Be healed, be refreshed, be made new
Over and over, every thought, every part
Receive my power and love for you.

I will tear down enemy strongholds,
wrong perceptions of the past.
I will build my fortress in you, place of refuge, joy will last.
I place my yoke of freedom on you,
holding your face in my hands
As you lift your arms to Me, child --
cleansed, empowered by my command.
Be holy, for I am holy; this promise I give you,
As I lift you up into Me. My life fills you, through and through.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -- Romans 15:13

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. -- 2 Corinthians 3:18

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. -- Ephesians 3:16-19

The Ride of Your Life

Day 101
Are you ready for a wild ride? Do you know where I'm taking you? You know your ultimate destination: Home in heaven, with Me forever; or, at least, you know something about it.

But do you know how many places I want to take you in this life? How many people I want to influence, help, and change through you? Be my vessel - my vehicle - to pour out of my great storehouses of treasure into the lives of the people you touch.

These are some of my treasures: love, joy, peace, healing, kindness, security, strength, faith, faithfulness, endurance, wisdom, revelation, generosity, abundance, truth, freedom, victory, light, vision, hope, Jesus!

Are you ready to ride?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. -- Galatians 5:22-23

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. -- Matthew 15:30

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
-- Colossians 2:2-3

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? No, in all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. -- Romans 8:31, 32, 37 [NLT]

How Can We Get There?

Day 100
So how do you get from here to there? Do you have a destination -- a goal -- a dream? Have you spent time with Me regularly and believe that you have received a dream in your heart from Me? Have you forgotten? Have the worries of the world -- and people -- crowded out my dreams for you?

Come back to the place of vision. Come back to the foot of the cross, where everything new begins. I am able to take you there, and I am able to refresh and renew you so that you can begin again.

But I will take every wrong turn you have made, every bad decision, every wild goose chase and chasing after wind and pipe dreams, every side trip you have detoured on, and I will weave these dry, dusty paths into a tapestry of my beautiful grace, as you repent and turn to Me. Come back to the cross. Lay it all down. Trust Me. I will finish what I started in you.

Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling. Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. -- Daniel 10:7-12 [NLT]

The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. -- 1 Corintians 1:18 [NLT]

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. -- Romans 8:28-30 [NLT]

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. -- Philippians 1:6 [AMP]

The Word of Action

Day 99
Let my word be established in you. My word is my action. My name is who I am. My word is what I do. When you receive my word, you must choose to let it be established within you. Don't just keep it in your mind; get it down into your spirit by meditation and prayer over it. When you receive my word in this way, then you will understand better who I am.

I watch over my word to perform it. You must watch over my word to participate in the action for which I send it. And you will be transformed by your participation in my action. I do the work, and you are the work of my hands. It is all accomplished by my word.

When you receive a word from Me, in your Bible reading, through prayer, or by preaching or teaching, write it down and pray over it, so that you will be able to take firm hold of the grace I send with it, my grace which is empowerment to act in obedience to what I have spoken to you. I have much to say -- it is always just enough. Receive my words. They are power and action for your living. Are you listening to Me?

But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of people, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the Lord. Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To uproot and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

The word of the Lord came to me saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "I see a rod of an almond tree." Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it." -- Jeremiah 1:7-12

Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors. My life dissolves and weeps itself away for heaviness; raise me up and strengthen me according to [the promises of] Your word. I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of your commandments, when you give me a heart that is willing. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law; yes, I will observe it with my whole heart. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Establish your word and confirm your promise to your servant, which is for those who reverently fear and devotedly worship You. Let your mercy and loving-kindness come also to me, O Lord, even your salvation according to your promise; then shall I have an answer for those who taunt and reproach me, for I lean on, rely on, and trust in your word. I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law from your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. Your hands have made me, cunningly fashioned and established me; give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments. -- Psalm 119:24, 32, 34, 37, 38, 41, 42 45, 71, 72, 73 [AMP]

New Again

Day 98
I am able to make everything new. I am able to create something out of nothing. Bring Me your nothing-ness. Bring Me your weakness and your brokenness. But if you are not broken, don't bother coming to Me. If you don't know you are broken, I cannot fix you. You have fixed yourself. You have fixed yourself a mess. I cannot pull you out unless your hands are lited up to Me. Lift up your hands like the tiny child who trusts her Papa to do everything well. Worship Me. Lift up your voice and cry out to Me. I will make everything new.

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing. -- Psalm 34:1-10

I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. -- Jeremiah 33:37-42

Quiet Confidence

Day 97
How does a believer become more mature in Christ -- more like Christ? How is this maturity measured? By how capable a person becomes? No. It is measured by how much you trust Me -- by how much repentance and rest, quietness and confidence you operate in.

Repentance is continual laying down of every self-motivated thing, and letting go of all that is not of Me.

Rest is being completely open and yielded to everything I want to say and do and be in your life -- every part. It is ceasing from your own efforts and saying "yes" to Me.

Quietness is standing in stability and perfect peace -- rock solid.

Confidence is knowledge of Me and perfect assurance that I am Who I am, and I will do what I say.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trusting confidence is your strength. -- Isaiah 30:15a