#ScriptureReflection - Psalm 44 (10.31.19)

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.

¹ We have heard it with our ears, O God;
    our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
    in days long ago.
² With your hand you drove out the nations
    and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples
    and made our ancestors flourish.
³ It was not by their sword that they won the land,
    nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
    and the light of your face, for you loved them.

⁴ You are my King and my God,
    who decrees victories for Jacob.
⁵ Through you we push back our enemies;
    through your name we trample our foes.
⁶ I put no trust in my bow,
    my sword does not bring me victory;
⁷ but you give us victory over our enemies,
    you put our adversaries to shame.
⁸ In God we make our boast all day long,
    and we will praise your name forever.

⁹ But now you have rejected and humbled us;
    you no longer go out with our armies.
¹⁰ You made us retreat before the enemy,
    and our adversaries have plundered us.
¹¹ You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
    and have scattered us among the nations.
¹² You sold your people for a pittance,
    gaining nothing from their sale.

¹³ You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
    the scorn and derision of those around us.
¹⁴ You have made us a byword among the nations;
    the peoples shake their heads at us.
¹⁵ I live in disgrace all day long,
    and my face is covered with shame
¹⁶ at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
    because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

¹⁷ All this came upon us,
    though we had not forgotten you;
    we had not been false to your covenant.
¹⁸ Our hearts had not turned back;
    our feet had not strayed from your path.
¹⁹ But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;
    you covered us over with deep darkness.

²⁰ If we had forgotten the name of our God
    or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
²¹ would not God have discovered it,
    since he knows the secrets of the heart?
²² Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

²³ Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
²⁴ Why do you hide your face
    and forget our misery and oppression?

²⁵ We are brought down to the dust;
    our bodies cling to the ground.
²⁶ Rise up and help us;
    rescue us because of your unfailing love.


 Source: NIV (New International Version)

Wait on the Lord Our God & Take Him at His Word (10.30.19)

Faith Believers,
It is important for us to know that GOD intervenes on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Throughout the Bible we are commanded to wait for the Lord. It is precisely this waiting that allows Him to freely move in our lives. Wait on the Lord and His timing. Blessed are those who have chosen not to act until GOD acts. Waiting on GOD means, regardless of the situation you are facing and the things you are seeing with your natural eyes, you will wait on the Lord and take Him at His Word.

~ Prayer ~
I wait for You, Lord.
My soul waits, and in Your Word
     I will believe.

Help me, Lord, not to run ahead impatiently - trying to do things for You, without You. At certain times, I may have done too much of that already.

Teach me to patiently wait upon You,
     so that I may then see Your amazing
     work on my behalf.

• Praise the Lord, whose name is a strong tower to which the righteous run and find safety (Proverbs 18:10).  
• Confess any area in which your walk is not consistent with the name of Jesus. 
• Commit to living your life for GOD. 
• Ask Our Father to give you the courage that comes from knowing that He cares for you.

Finally, pray for those who are going through trials and feeling defeated by the enemy. GOD is a strong tower and a very present help in time of need. He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Rebuke the enemy and his people, in the name of Jesus, and they must flee!

Thank God for what you have,
Trust God for what you need.
  -  Marilyn

Dwelling in His Secret Place (10.29.19)

Beloved,
Bring your burdens to Me, alone, into the secret place of My Presence.  And in the secret place, where we commune together, I Will answer your prayers and bring you to a place of spiritual strength and courage. 

I Want you to focus.  I Need your attention, so that you can be an instrument of My Will.  Quiet your soul, so that you are positioned to fulfill My Purposes, as opposed to striving to fulfill your own desires.

Enter into our secret place and seek Me with all of your heart.  Do not be afraid to come to Me, My Child; for the way has been made for you to find Me. 

Never let anything hinder your spiritual growth. 

If you desire to do My Will and submit to Me,
     you will walk in truth and power.

Draw close to Me in Our secret place, and let Me abide in you and you in Me.  Let Us be One, with no separation or division between Us. 

My Desire is that your heart and mind come into complete unity with Me.

I Started a mighty work in your life,
     and I Am faithful.
I Will complete the work I Have begun.



Read and Meditate on God's Word
Psalm 91:1 - He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Matthew 6:6 - But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

John 17:20-21 - Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Philippians 1:6 - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 3:20 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

God is Our Help (10.28.19)

But I am poor and needy; Jehovah will care for me;
 You are my help and my deliverer; O my GOD, do not wait.
     -  Psalm 40:17

My Child,
Sometimes you are so busy trying to figure things out, you forget to stop and ask Me for help.

Then, before you know it, everything around you is in disarray. How long will you wait before seeking My Help? I Am here to offer you help. Why don’t you take your hands off things and place them in My Hands? I Have the answers you need, if only you’ll seek Me first. I’ve been here all the time, waiting patiently to show you the way.

I Am eager to help you and to instruct you; however, I won’t force My Will upon you. I’ll only step in when you come to the end of yourself, and surrender all to Me.

It is a Loving Father’s desire to ease the load of His Children. Do not let your pride stop you from allowing Me to help you. A prideful spirit is of the enemy, and it will hold you back.

Allow Me to help you, and you will see the enemy flee like the coward he is. I Will gladly intervene on your behalf.

I Am here to help, just let Me know
     what you need Me to do.




READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Psalm 46:1 - GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Psalm 71:12 - O GOD, be not far from me; O my GOD, make haste for my help.

Isaiah 30:18 - And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a GOD of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Believe in the Father, for Yourself (10.27.19)

My Child,
You usually find it easy to speak faith, and believe in My Promises for others.  However, you cannot see the wealth of opportunities that await you. 

Just as you stand, believe, and prophesy over the lives of others; I Want you to do the same for your life.

I Have poured so much into you.  Now, it is time that you start believing and acting upon the words of faith you’ve spoken into others, to change your life. Take the initial step and move where your heart is leading you. 

I Am waiting to unleash My Power through you, in an instant.

You have always had enough strength, trust and faith to believe that I Could do the impossible in the lives of those you intercede for; now show Me you have enough faith and trust to believe that I Can do the same for you.

My Child, I Am no respecter of persons...  What I Have done for others, I Will do for you.  It is time that you believe in Me, for yourself.

Beloved, I Can speak into existence anything that is My Will, for all those who trust and believe in Me. I Have placed within you, many blessings which have benefited others; and now I Will bless you too.

It is time that you believe in Me to do
     the impossible for you as well.

There is nothing in this world that can tie My Hands
     and cause blessings not to come forward for those
     whom I Choose to bless.

You've spoken blessings over others, so now it is
      time for blessings to be spoken over you.

I Will bless you with the desires
     of your heart My Child!








READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in GOD.
John 20:29 - Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Philippians 2:12 - Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Acts 10:35 - Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that GOD is no respecter of persons.

Prayer Still Works (10.26.19)

My Child,
I See something very heavy is on your mind.

Do not let these thoughts take you captive.
You must take control, pray and give those
     anxious thoughts to Me.

If not, worry and anxiety will affect your body and your spirit. In no way is worrying beneficial; for it will not fix anything. Take your thoughts captive, and turn worrying around with prayer. Use those same anxious thoughts, transform them and form strong prayers. Take what the enemy is bringing against you and cause it to backfire on him.

Prayer is always the best defense when anxiety enters your life.

I Know it is hard; but in a time like this, when it is hardest to pray - you must pray. Offer a sacrifice of prayer and praise when everything around you dictates the opposite.

Take those thoughts captive, and turn to Me. Reflect on those times in the past when you prayed; and things like this worked out for your good.

Prayer still works.
Nothing has changed.



 READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:
2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Philippians 4:6-7 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GOD. And the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

James 5:16b - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Exceedingly Abundantly.... (10.25.19)

My Child,
Do not lay buried beneath your circumstances anymore.

I Want you to stand on top of your circumstances and shout out, “I will overcome for My GOD is able to give Me much more than this.”

It is not your strength that will enable you to stand, it will be Mine. We are covenant partners. I Will supply the strength you need.

In My Name, the impossible will be done.

It does not matter what you are going through right now.  This is not the end of you. Say it with Me, “This is not the end of me.”

Do not worry about the things you see
     with your eyes.
Do not worry about the things coming against you.
Trust completely in Me, and believe that I Am able
     to give you much more than this.

Go ahead and lean on Me for strength.
Let Me do what you cannot do.

Try Me and see if I won’t prove Myself to you. I Will put your feet on a steady path. No matter what your situation dictates right now, I Want you to know I Have a life more abundantly planned for you.

Shake off those grave clothes, and the things that weigh you down; for I Am more than able to bring restoration to your life.



Read and Meditate on God's Word:
John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Ephesians 3:20 - Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Faith Believers,
I pray the peace of Jesus will flood your soul
and destroy any fears holding you back, so that
the vision He has given you, will come to pass. - Marilyn

The Most Powerful Speech Ever Made - Jesus' Sermon on the Mount [#ScriptureReflection - Matthew 5-7] (10.24.19)

(Matthew 5)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

³¹ “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Eye for Eye

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ ³⁹ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Matthew 6 )

Giving to the Needy

6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

² “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³ But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer

⁵ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷ And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

¹⁴ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ 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? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

(Matthew 7)

Judging Others

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock

⁷ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! ¹² So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

(Matthew 8)

8 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.

Stand Up, Dust Yourself Off & Stop Worrying (10.23.19)

Beloved,
Why are you looking at your trials through the lens of the world?

You should not do this. I Want you to start trusting Me as you read My Word daily; and apply it to your life.

If you allow the view of the world to overtake your mind you will start acting like the world; and your problems will escalate and overwhelm you. You are to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath.  You are My Child and I Love you.

Seek My Face and I Will fight for you.

Your trials are under My Feet and I Have already worked this thing out; but you must trust and believe this.

As We speak right now, I Have already made a way.

I Have already placed the enemy, his people and tactics under your feet - where they belong. I Am opening the door you have asked Me to open. You Will overcome all that is trying to come against you.

You are surrounded by My Grace and My Favor; and no weapon formed against you will prosper. Let them scheme and plan, because nothing they do will work. It will backfire every time because I Am with you.

Stand up, dust off and stop worrying.

I Am with you, and remember, worrying
     is not of Me; but the work of the enemy.



READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Deuteronomy 28:13 - And Jehovah shall make you the head, and not the tail. And you shall be always above, and you shall not be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Jehovah your GOD, which I command you today, to observe and to do them.

Ephesians 2:4-6 - But GOD, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.

Colossians 3:2 - Set your mind on things above not on earthly things.

Leave Yesterday Behind. Move Forward in Faith, Focus, Walk Through Open Doors & Prevail.... (10.22.19)

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again - Proverbs 24:16


My Child,
Lately, some of you have been thinking about the mistakes you’ve made, and the opportunities missed. Please leave behind your yesterdays - and move forward in faith to prevail over your stronghold.

Let go of the regrets about what happened.

Keep your mind focused on Me; so that your spiritual vision can be restored.  Because new opportunities are coming your way.

You’ve mourned over what you didn’t accomplish.  Now move on. I Have greater things ahead for you. If you stop looking backward, you’ll see that all you’ve gone through has worked out for your good.

Therefore, do not look to the past any longer.  Press forward...  for this is a brand new season.

Even now, I Am opening up a new door before you. Things are about to take place in certain areas of your life. However, you must truly believe the Words that I speak to you; and position yourself spiritually for success.

Leave behind your mistakes, your frustrations and your failures.

Leave behind the regret of roads not traveled.

Begin to move out of your wilderness experience,
     walk through the doors that are opening,
     and into the provision that awaits you.



READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Matthew 9:29 - Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Philippians 3:13-14 - Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of GOD in Christ Jesus.

Get Back Up, Try Again, Stay Focused & Get Into the Truth of God's Word. (10.21.19)

My Child,
When you have made a mistake or failed, the enemy will come in and whisper lies to you...  taunting you to give up.  he will remind you of the many times you've failed and will try to convince you that you will never succeed. My Child, I Know you may be weary, but do not listen to his voice.  he knows that each time you stumble and get back up, that you are getting closer to success.  he knows that if you keep pressing your way, you will destroy his plans. Therefore, he will do whatever he can to keep you so discouraged that you will want to give up and never try again.  You won't overcome the enemy if you give up now.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,

 and by the word of their testimony.
 - Revelations 12:11

Do not be thrown 'off track' by his tricks
     or the unbelief of others.
Stay focused, get back up, and get back
     into the truth of My Word.

Stay focused on what I Have spoken to you. 
Believe that I Am faithful to keep My Promises.

I Am the God of Grace and Mercy.

It does not matter how many times you have made mistakes or failed...  I Am merciful, I Will forgive you, and I Will give you another chance.  All you have to do is get back up and try again.

For a just man falleth seven times,
and riseth up again:

- Proverbs 24:16

So, do not be discouraged and do not lose hope.
Instead, get back up and try again. 

Try again, knowing that I Am on your side.  I Will not give up on you, so please do not give up on Me. Take Authority, in the realm of the Spirit, and do not back down to the voice of the enemy; nor to the naysayers that would come to discourage you. 

My Child, you will never overcome your circumstances if you stop trying.

Do not allow the voice of the enemy to hold you down, and keep you in bondage. 

Get back up and try again.

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying,
 our spirits are being renewed every day.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16 [NLT]

I Want you to open your spiritual eyes and see the truth that I See.  When you see as I See, the truth will be revealed; and you will see that you are getting closer to Victory, more and more, every day. Turn a deaf ear to the lies of the enemy by listening only to My Voice and keeping your eyes on My Word. 

Renew your mind.  Refresh your thoughts with My Word, and think about things that are true, honest and of a good report. If you follow these guidelines you will be able to overcome anything the enemy tries to bring against you.

Now, get back up and try it again; then you
     will see that you are closer to your victory
     than you realized. Amen.




READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Psalm 37:23-24 - The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

John 10:3-5 - To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Philippians 4:7-8 - And the peace of GOD, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things

Trust God to do the Impossible for You (10.20.19)

My Child,
I Am calling you to walk in a new way; to walk in the impossible, to walk the impasse.

There is no human way to do this, but I Shall provide the way; for with Me, nothing is impossible.  And when you lose hope, I Will create all the hope you require. When you come to your impasse, cry out to Me and I Will hear you. I Will direct your path. The act of stepping out on My Word represents your faith and declares your trust in Me.

Do not allow the impossibility to hinder you from standing on My Word.  You will never fully know My Faithfulness, unless you trust Me completely during impossible situations.  Stand on My Word, even though you may not feel My Presence. 

Feelings are unreliable during times like this.

You are now standing at a point in your life where everything inside of you is telling you, 'this thing is going not going to happen.'  However, eyes have not seen nor ears have heard the things I Will do for those whose love and trust in My Word. 

My Hands are not tied My Child, because I Have all power over everything.

What situation or trial can tie My Hands?
Not a one!!

So trust Me to do the impossible for you.



 READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Luke 1:37 - For with GOD nothing shall be impossible.

James 2:18 - Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

James 2:20 - But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

This Too Shall Pass.... (10.19.19)

Faith Believers,
What you are going through shall pass.

Just like all the other trials that have come and gone before; this too shall also pass. You had faith in Me once, now have faith in Me again. I have not changed. I have not turned against you, nor have I forgotten what troubles your heart. I See everything, and I See that you are worried about what the enemy is trying to do to you.

Do not pay any attention to what he is trying to do.

You gave Me control.

All the enemy wants to do is test your faith. he wants to see whether you will have faith in Me, no matter what comes against you. I Want you to stand.  I Want you to know that I Am with you and that I Will never forsake you.

After these trials and tests, you will come out in a better place.  A place where there is no contention.

Strengthen yourself with My Word, and do not let go of the faith that I Have imparted in you. Set your mind on Me.  Set your mind on those things which are true and of a good report. Recognize that there is nothing that can come against you, which I can’t see you through.

Be encouraged this day and know that
     this “Job” experience that you are
     going through shall pass.

Yes, this too shall pass.....


Read and Meditate on God's Word
Job 13:15 - Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him

Job 42:10 (NLT) - When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes.  In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before.

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

1 Peter 1:6-7 - Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Faith Believers,
I pray that the Peace of Jesus will flood your soul
and destroy any fears holding you back.
So that the vision He has given you,
will come to pass.
  -  Marilyn

#ScriptureReflection - Ecclesiastes 3 (10.18.19)

A Time for Everything

3 For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
² A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace.

⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. ¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.

¹⁴ And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵ What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

The Injustices of Life

¹⁶ I also noticed that under the sun there is evil in the courtroom. Yes, even the courts of law are corrupt! ¹⁷ I said to myself, “In due season God will judge everyone, both good and bad, for all their deeds.”

¹⁸ I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. ¹⁹ For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! ²⁰ Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. ²¹ For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth? ²² So I saw that there is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is our lot in life. And no one can bring us back to see what happens after we die.


Source: NLT (New Living Translation)

 

All is Well (10.17.19)

My Child,
I Know you’ve been a little distressed lately about your walk with Me.

Be patient and continue to press your way through the uneasiness that you feel. I Have seen the doubts lingering in your mind, and the ways the enemy has tried to bring confusion into your life.

Do not worry My Child, I Will not allow any harm to come to you.

Even though you’ve been struggling, I Am pleased that it hasn't stopped you from speaking forth the Words I Have placed within you. Yes, in the midst of it all, you are still standing on My Word.

I Am well pleased.

Do not worry about whether you are in the right place in your life right now, because you are. I Have placed you exactly where I Want you to be. And although you may not see the fruits of your labor yet, I See them.

Be patient, for soon everything will be made clear.

My Precious Child, I Adore you.
I Am so proud of you.
And I Am with you always.

***  GOD is using the situation you're in to prepare you
for the place He wants you to be. Trust Him and believe
that all is well, even if you can't see it.***
 - Marilyn

Read and Meditate on God's Word
Job 22:21 - Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

Job 23:10 - But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Haggai 1:13 - Then spake Haggai the LORD'S messenger in the LORD'S message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.

1 Corinthians 14:33 - For GOD is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

I pray the peace of Jesus will flood your soul
and destroy any fears holding you back, so that
the vision He has given you will come to pass
  -  Marilyn

Avoid Confusion (10.16.19)

My Child,
It is very important for you to keep an overall sense of where you are and what I Have called you to do.

Be strong, be of good courage, and stay focused on things that actually matter; things of eternal value. Do not become distracted from the things in this world. Do not allow yourself to become confused and hectic by listening to what the enemy is trying to whisper in your ear.

You know that wherever there is confusion, I Am not in the midst of it. Confusion will cause you to take your eyes off Me and give into those things the enemy would love to see happen in your life.

I Have given you a great work to accomplish, and you must not allow yourself to become distracted or confused. Take time to feed on things that have spiritual substance, and you will be strengthened.

Your spiritual focus is very important, so put My Kingdom first in your life. Dwell in the sweet presence of My Holy Spirit. I Will bring peace into your situation and into your environment; but you must first recognize that the chaotic things that are happening, are not of Me.

Call on Me Beloved, and I Will come to you - bringing peace and calmness into your situation.



Read and Meditate on God's Word
Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy GOD, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Matthew 6:33 - But seek ye first the kingdom of GOD, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

1 Corinthians 14:33 - For GOD is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

#ScriptureReflection - Micah 7 (10.15.19)

Sorrow for Israel’s Sins

7 Woe is me!
For I am like those who gather summer fruits,
Like those who glean vintage grapes;
There is no cluster to eat
Of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.
² The faithful man has perished from the earth,
And there is no one upright among men.
They all lie in wait for blood;
Every man hunts his brother with a net.

³ That they may successfully do evil with both hands—
The prince asks for gifts,
The judge seeks a bribe,
And the great man utters his evil desire;
So they scheme together.
⁴ The best of them is like a brier;
The most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge;
The day of your watchman and your punishment comes;
Now shall be their perplexity.

⁵ Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.
⁶ For son dishonors father,
Daughter rises against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
⁷ Therefore I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me.

Israel’s Confession and Comfort

⁸ Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The Lord will be a light to me.
⁹ I will bear the indignation of the Lord,
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case
And executes justice for me.
He will bring me forth to the light;
I will see His righteousness.
¹⁰ Then she who is my enemy will see,
And shame will cover her who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will see her;
Now she will be trampled down
Like mud in the streets.

¹¹ In the day when your walls are to be built,
In that day the decree shall go far and wide.
¹² In that day they shall come to you
From Assyria and the fortified cities,
From the fortress to the River,
From sea to sea,
And mountain to mountain.
¹³ Yet the land shall be desolate
Because of those who dwell in it,
And for the fruit of their deeds.

God Will Forgive Israel

¹⁴ Shepherd Your people with Your staff,
The flock of Your heritage,
Who dwell solitarily in a woodland,
In the midst of Carmel;
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
As in days of old.

¹⁵ “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,
I will show them wonders.”

¹⁶ The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;
They shall put their hand over their mouth;
Their ears shall be deaf.
¹⁷ They shall lick the dust like a serpent;
They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth.
They shall be afraid of the Lord our God,
And shall fear because of You.
¹⁸ Who is a God like You,
Pardoning iniquity
And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,
Because He delights in mercy.
¹⁹ He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all our sins
Into the depths of the sea.
²⁰ You will give truth to Jacob
And mercy to Abraham,
Which You have sworn to our fathers
From days of old.

Source: NKJV  (New King James Version)

 

There is No Room for Discouragement (10.14.19)

My Child,
The unhappiness you may be feeling could come from being stressed over things you cannot control. I Want you to find a quiet place to meditate in My Presence.

When your mind isn’t dwelling on the things above, it will affect your joy. So, quiet your mind and learn to focus more on Me. Everything discouragement touches will die. I Speak not only of your happiness; but I Speak to your health and relationships.

Being discouraged tells Me you are losing faith in My Ability to change your situation. What man can close any door I Have opened? What man can open any door I Have closed?  I Have all power, so do not be discouraged; just know that I Am GOD.  I Have promised to bless and deliver you. I Am not a man that I should lie. I Am going to do exactly what I Promised; but it will be in My Timing and not yours.

Therefore, refuse to allow discouragement to keep you from the benefits of Kingdom Living and Kingdom Faith.

Come and let Me Cleanse your mind from all unproductive thoughts.

And just in case you don’t know what
     those thoughts are, I Will let you know.
Any thoughts which cause you to doubt Me
     are unproductive thoughts.

As you meditate on My Word, I Will send
     the Holy Spirit to make things clearer to you.


READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD
Deuteronomy 31:8 - And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:  fear not, neither be dismayed.

Psalm 42:5 - Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in GOD: for I shall yet praise  him for the help of his countenance.

Isaiah 35:4 - Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your GOD will come with vengeance, even GOD with a recompense; he will come and save you.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of GOD, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The Father's Word (10.13.19)

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us....

Yes, My Word, Beloveds! 

Read My Word. 
Meditate upon it. 
And read it out loud.

Let it penetrate your spirit.
Study My Word.

Store My Words in your heart, and use them as you would a light to guide your footsteps. My Word is true and powerful!

My Word will carry My Voice, which will speak to your heart.

My Word is calling on you to meditate on the things My Son, Jesus, has said to us. My Word will call things that are not, as though they were. Cling to My Word, it is a sweet aroma that will awaken the hunger that is lying dormant within you.

Let My Word truly be the lamp unto your feet; and a light upon your path. Nothing can stand against My Word. It breaks all strongholds! demons will flee at the sound of My Word and the mention of My Name! they cannot stand My Word, The Word of GOD; nor anything connected to My Kingdom.

When you come under attack by the enemy, just speak My Son's Name - JESUS, JESUS, JESUS - and the enemy and his people will flee.  My Name, My Son's Name and My Word - The Word of GOD - is the only thing they will respect!

My Word - The Word of GOD - is powerful, My Child.....
And no one, and nothing, can stand against.....
My Word!



READ AND MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD:
Psalm 105:5 - Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,

Psalm 119:105 - Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD.

John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Romans 4:17 - (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even GOD, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Restoration (10.12.19)

My Child,
I Am bringing the broken pieces of your life back together.

Even though some of you cannot see it, and things may not make sense right now...  But please know that restoration is coming. I Will bring clarity to what was unclear. Your faith has been on trial, and most of the time, you could not see your next step. Yes, you kept the faith, trusting Me to guide you to the very end.

I Am bringing restoration, and it will cause you
     to rejoice and leap for joy. 
Even in the midst of hard times.

My Restoration will flow into your relationships, and cause those who I Intend to walk with you, to come into alignment with My Word.

I Am bringing restoration into every area of your life, because of the glory you brought to My Name -  in the midst of your storm.

I Thank you, for not allowing your hurt and pain to stop you from encouraging others who were suffering.

You have done well, My Child; and now is the time to rejoice, because you are about to enter "A Season of Restoration" in your life.



Read and Meditate on God's Word:


John 3:16 - For GOD so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Ephesians 2:4-5 - But GOD, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1 John 3:1 - Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of GOD. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Faith Believers,
I pray the peace of Jesus will flood your soul
and destroy any fears holding you back;
so the vision He has given you,
will come to pass.

Thank God for what you have,
Trust God for what you need....

 -  Marilyn

#ScriptureReflection - Judith 8 (10.11.19)

III. Judith, Instrument of the Lord

Description of Judith. ¹ Now in those days Judith, daughter of Merari, son of Ox, son of Joseph, son of Oziel, son of Elkiah, son of Ananias, son of Gideon, son of Raphain, son of Ahitub, son of Elijah, son of Hilkiah, son of Eliab, son of Nathanael, son of Salamiel, son of Sarasadai, son of Simeon, son of Israel, heard of this. ² Her husband, Manasseh, of her own tribe and clan, had died at the time of the barley harvest. ³ While he was supervising those who bound the sheaves in the field, he was overcome by the heat; and he collapsed on his bed and died in Bethulia, his native city. He was buried with his ancestors in the field between Dothan and Balamon. ⁴ Judith was living as a widow in her home for three years and four months. ⁵ She set up a tent for herself on the roof of her house, put sackcloth about her waist, and wore widow’s clothing. ⁶ She fasted all the days of her widowhood, except sabbath eves and sabbaths, new moon eves and new moons, feastdays and holidays of the house of Israel. ⁷ She was beautiful in appearance and very lovely to behold. Her husband, Manasseh, had left her gold and silver, male and female servants, livestock and fields, which she was maintaining. ⁸ No one had a bad word to say about her, for she feared God greatly.

Judith and the Elders. ⁹ So when Judith heard of the harsh words that the people, discouraged by their lack of water, had spoken against their ruler, and of all that Uzziah had said to them in reply, swearing that he would hand over the city to the Assyrians at the end of five days, ¹⁰ she sent her maid who was in charge of all her things to summon Uzziah, Chabris, and Charmis, the elders of her city. ¹¹ When they came, she said to them: “Listen to me, you rulers of the people of Bethulia. What you said to the people today is not right. You pronounced this oath, made between God and yourselves, and promised to hand over the city to our enemies unless within a certain time the Lord comes to our aid. ¹² Who are you to put God to the test today, setting yourselves in the place of God in human affairs? ¹³ And now it is the Lord Almighty you are putting to the test, but you will never understand anything! ¹⁴ You cannot plumb the depths of the human heart or grasp the workings of the human mind; how then can you fathom God, who has made all these things, or discern his mind, or understand his plan?

“No, my brothers, do not anger the Lord our God. ¹⁵ For if he does not plan to come to our aid within the five days, he has it equally within his power to protect us at such time as he pleases, or to destroy us in the sight of our enemies. ¹⁶ Do not impose conditions on the plans of the Lord our God. God is not like a human being to be moved by threats, nor like a mortal to be cajoled.

¹⁷ “So while we wait for the salvation that comes from him, let us call upon him to help us, and he will hear our cry if it pleases him. ¹⁸ For there has not risen among us in recent generations, nor does there exist today, any tribe, or clan, or district, or city of ours that worships gods made by hands, as happened in former days. ¹⁹ It was for such conduct that our ancestors were handed over to the sword and to pillage, and fell with great destruction before our enemies. ²⁰ But since we acknowledge no other god but the Lord, we hope that he will not disdain us or any of our people. ²¹ If we are taken, then all Judea will fall, our sanctuary will be plundered, and God will demand an account from us for their profanation. ²² For the slaughter of our kindred, for the taking of exiles from the land, and for the devastation of our inheritance, he will hold us responsible among the nations. Wherever we are enslaved, we will be a scandal and a reproach in the eyes of our masters. ²³ Our servitude will not work to our advantage, but the Lord our God will turn it to disgrace.

²⁴ “Therefore, my brothers, let us set an example for our kindred. Their lives depend on us, and the defense of the sanctuary, the temple, and the altar rests with us. ²⁵ Besides all this, let us give thanks to the Lord our God for putting us to the test as he did our ancestors. ²⁶ Recall how he dealt with Abraham, and how he tested Isaac, and all that happened to Jacob in Syrian Mesopotamia while he was tending the flocks of Laban, his mother’s brother. ²⁷ He has not tested us with fire, as he did them, to try their hearts, nor is he taking vengeance on us. But the Lord chastises those who are close to him in order to admonish them.”

²⁸ Then Uzziah said to her: “All that you have said you have spoken truthfully, and no one can deny your words. ²⁹ For today is not the first time your wisdom has been evident, but from your earliest days all the people have recognized your understanding, for your heart’s disposition is right. ³⁰ The people, however, were so thirsty that they forced us to do for them as we have promised, and to bind ourselves by an oath that we cannot break. ³¹ But now, since you are a devout woman, pray for us that the Lord may send rain to fill up our cisterns. Then we will no longer be fainting from thirst.”

³² Then Judith said to them: “Listen to me! I will perform a deed that will go down from generation to generation among our descendants. ³³ Stand at the city gate tonight to let me pass through with my maid; and within the days you have specified before you will surrender the city to our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. ³⁴ You must not inquire into the affair, for I will not tell you what I am doing until it has been accomplished.” ³⁵ Uzziah and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you to take vengeance upon our enemies!” ³⁶ Then they withdrew from the tent and returned to their posts.


Source: NABRE (New American Bible (Revised Edition))