My child, I am here with you. I am your refuge. I am your peace. Come to Me now. Bring to Me what troubles your soul. Give Me what breaks your heart. I am here. I am your comfort. When the fire rages, I am your living water that quenches the flames. I desire to go deep with you, My child. Sometimes going deeper includes suffering. Suffering is not meant to break you, but to embolden you, to draw you closer to Me and to burn off all the dross so that the reflection of Me is evident to all. I am doing a purifying work. Let that work do its job. You are My pure and spotless bride. I died so that you would be reconciled to the Holy Father. Presented to Him holy and blameless. Because of My death and resurrection, you have that position now. This temporary suffering allows you to experience the deeper more intimate relationship I desire. Come to Me. Bring Me your pain. I am what you need. Release and surrender everything. I have so much for you, but it requires compete release and surrender.
Spiritual Life Means the Sharing of God’s Life
We can’t fully appreciate what it means to be alive in our spirit until we understand what it means to be spiritually dead. Being dead means that our connection to God is broken in such a way that communication with Him on a Spirit to spirit basis simply isn’t possible. Since the very definition of spiritual life is the sharing of God’s life, His presence within is our only lifeline.
Christ’s death on the cross paved the way for every person on earth to experience His indwelling presence. But though He offers it as a free gift, it doesn’t just happen automatically. We receive His gift only by our willingness to turn from our own selfish desires—our sin—and then put Him in charge by making him the Lord of our life. If you haven’t already taken this step, do it now! God will keep His word. You’ll be born again and enter a life you never dreamed possible.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
Our Spirit: the Dwelling Place of God
Man’s spiritual nature is God’s supreme gift, since through our spirit, and only through our spirit, are we able to commune with Him. Indeed, the opportunity for His indwelling presence is the reason our spirit exists. Our spirit has been fashioned in such a way as to provide the Holy Spirit a dwelling place within. God actually takes up residence in our spirit as we allow Him to do so. Because He has given us the capacity of free will, God lives within us only as an invited guest.
I’m sure you’ve heard it said that within each person there is a God-shaped vacuum which only He can fill. That place is our spirit. Without the inhabiting presence of God, our spirit is simply dead—and therefore purposeless. God’s presence within our spirit is the basis not only for communion with Him, but also lays the foundation for fulfilling the purpose for which we were created: eternal life in Him.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
I want your all
My child, I want every part of you. I desire to be your all and all. I know that when I have every bit of you, you will be completely satisfied and fulfilled. If you keep one thing back, no matter how small, it will nag at you and it will end up eating you alive. The enemy is aware of this and will try to keep you from surrendering that one thing over to Me. But trust Me My child. You are completely safe and secure in My hands. The enemy will take that thing and use it against you the minute you refuse to give it over. By not giving it to Me, you are placing it in the enemy’s hands for his purposes. Who would you trust more? Him or Me? That is your choice. Know that I am your Father who loves you with an everlasting love. He is the father of lies. Come My child. Give Me your all. I gave My all at the cross and defeated the devil. Come and live in freedom, joy and complete satisfaction.
Our Flesh: Body, Mind, and Soul
The Bible often uses the term flesh to illustrate what Jesus strongly warned against: “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Here the term flesh is used to describe that part of our nature which stands in contrast to our spirit. It is the carnal nature of man, the root of our sinful passions. Our flesh encompasses body, mind and soul—that part of us which is able to function without ever submitting to God.
It’s very important to understand that the flesh follows us into our new life in God. It continues to have a life of its own, even as our spirit is reborn and made alive. Regardless of the fact that we’re now focused on the desire of the Spirit, we find ourselves constantly embroiled in a battle with the desires of our flesh, as Paul so emphatically states in Galatians 5:17. Thank God there’s help!
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
True Fulfillment
My child, I call My beloved. I woo My children. I long for intimacy with My bride. How I wish she wasn’t so distracted and enamored with the things of this world. How I wish she longed for Me as I long for her. Quiet your heart. Be still in My Presence. Hear Me. Desire Me. I alone can bring the peace that surpasses all understanding. I alone can satisfy a heart that is distraught. The world and all it offers can never bring that fulfillment you long for. This is My job. It is in My power and presence that true fulfillment comes.
Why Are We the Way We Are?
Understanding our nature is tremendously helpful as we strive for spiritual growth. Why are we the way we are? Curiosity drove me to examine myself, because my behavior seemed to prove that I was a very different person than what I thought I should be. God knows who we really are. When He said, “Let Us make man in Our image,” He unveiled His purpose for all of creation.
We often think of our spirit as being our true identity as human beings. But being a person means a whole lot more than having to endure a physical body before our spirit is cut loose to inhabit eternity with God. Man is a complex mixture of body, soul and spirit—anything less simply means being less than human. We are none other than the pinnacle of God’s created order! And His plan demanded that we be fashioned in a specific way, since He could accomplish His eternal purpose by no other means.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
My delight is in you
My bride, I rejoice over you. My delight is in you. I have adorned you with My jewels of righteousness. O rejoice My bride. Rejoice and lift your eyes up to the heavens. Behold your God who adores you, who brings you into His Kingdom and clothes you with the garment of salvation. You, My love, My bride, My chosen one. You are royalty and you reign in the midst of your enemies. Take comfort in the fact that you are safe and secure in the shelter of My wings and you will overcome. Glory in the fact that I purchased you with My blood and when the enemy sees you, he sees My Protective Hand on you. Take courage My bride. Rejoice. Look to Me. I am your Bridegroom. I am your covering. I am and there is no other. Isaiah 61.
Understanding and Embracing Suffering
Because suffering plays such a vital role in God’s destiny for us, we can’t just sweep it under the rug. It’s tremendously helpful not only to understand suffering, but to embrace it as well. God wants us to experience joy and fulfillment, and even lots of pleasure as we live our lives for Him. But He did not create us for earthly happiness alone, no matter how bountiful life here might turn out to be.
It doesn’t matter what wealth or prestige we gain in life, or even how wonderful our relationships might be. Mature Christians know that none of this holds a candle to what we’ve really been designed for. None of us are exempt from the challenges and hardships that inevitably come our way. Trials are common to all believers. But it’s certainly not due to lack of interest on God’s part. Just the opposite, actually: He allows suffering because He deeply cares about us.
From Free from the Power of Sin: the Keys to Growing in God in Spite of Yourself
Look Up
My child, I love you even in your failures. When you feel like you are in a freefall into sin or despair, I love you. I never take My eyes off of you. You only need to look up and reach out and I will be there to catch you. This is the time to praise Me. This is the time to worship Me. This is the time to be thankful. Oh how the enemy hates it when you do these things when he thinks he has you in his clutches. I have overcome the evil one and when you are secure in Me so have you. So, pray-praise-worship and be thankful. The battle is won. I have the victory and you are victorious in Me. Rejoice-Shout-Proclaim! The Mighty Hand of the Lord has gone before you and secured the victory. Do not wallow in the pit of despair for I have rescued you and you are MIne. You are Chosen. You are My pure and spotless bride.