Listening for God's Guidance & Leading; 3 Ways to Live in His Purpose. (5.3.15)

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. - Psalm 119:105

Faith Believers,
All people long for direction and purpose in life.
As Christians, we can ask the Lord to guide us.
We do not have to live without purpose.
What are some of the ways GOD guides us in His will?
How should we be listening for His leading?

Get Quiet with GOD and Examine Your Desires

Hearing GOD’s guidance begins with our minds and hearts.

The Bible reminds us to be still - Psalm 46:10 as we listen for His leading, and to be transformed by the renewal of your mind - Romans 12:2. The Scriptures are full of prayers you can use to ask GOD to focus on Him, such as: Search me, O GOD, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! - Psalm 139:23.

Genuinely seek the Lord and ask our generous GOD - James 1:5 to put your thoughts in line with His desires for you.

Ask Yourself: Would Jesus Think This Way?

It’s easier to hear GOD when your thoughts are in line with His.
Choosing GOD as the ruler of your thoughts is important.

Jesus said, Whatever is in your heart determines what you say - Matthew 12:34. We must also put GOD as the ruler of what we say, because The tongue can speak words that bring life or death - Proverbs 18:21. Again, we can look to Scripture for prayers so that GOD can and will guide our words: Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord - Psalm 19:14.

Seek GOD’s guidance for what you say,
think carefully before you speak,
make sure each idea is in line with GOD’s teaching.

Let GOD’s Word Guide You

Thinking and speaking GOD’s word helps us live it out!

The Bible promises that you can seek His will in all you do - Proverbs 3:6 and depend on Him to guide your paths. As you seek GOD’s guidance for your actions, pray back to GOD the requests found in the Psalms: Lead me, O Lord, in Your Righteousness; Teach me Your Way, O Lord; Teach me to do Your Will, my GOD! - Psalms 5:8, 86:11, 143:10.

GOD can build up your life,
so that depending on His leading is second nature!

~  Prayer  ~

Heavenly Father,

Help me to obey Your guidance.

Lord help me to be still and know that You are GOD.
I know that You do not announce Your presence
over a megaphone, but through a small, still voice.

Help me to always recognize this small, still voice;
so that I can be obedient to Your Word.

I pray this prayer in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Amen

We Are the Temple that God Dwells in (5.2.15)

Now arise, O Lord GOD, and come to your resting place… - 2 Chronicles 6:41

Faith Believers,

The people of Israel firmly believed in the presence of GOD in the tabernacle, and now in the temple. Even though Solomon had the wisdom to know that the fullness of GOD could never be contained in a building, he still asked that GOD be present in the temple.

Prayer is no longer dependent upon a building! When the curtain in the temple was torn in two at Jesus’ death (Mark 15:38), we were given free access to speak with GOD directly. The curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn, indicating that we may now enter GOD’s very presence. Our sins no longer have to separate us from GOD’s presence. 

When we asked Jesus to be the Savior and Lord of our lives, we became the temple that GOD dwells in. After Solomon’s dedication prayer, the shekinah glory of GOD came over the temple. The same thing happened on the Day of Pentecost, as the Holy Spirit came to make his home in the believers: They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them - Acts 2:3. The fire was a symbol of His divine presence. Jesus made the way for us to communicate directly with the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.

I praise You Lord, 

for the awesome fact of Your
indwelling presence in my life.
Help me to never forget this amazing truth.
Thank You Lord!!!

You Have Worked Too Hard. Do Not Allow Your Circumstances to Steal Your Joy. (5.1.15)

My Child,
You may not always be aware of My presence,
but I am always aware of yours. 

I am with you and constantly working for your good. 

I know what you need, even before you ask Me. 

I know that right now, you are going through some circumstances that seem to be so overwhelming, you feel you cannot make it. However, know I am with you, in the midst of what you are going through. You have nothing to fear. 

What you are going through will never overtake you. 

I will not allow it, for I am still in control. 

I want you to learn to put your hope in Me.

Do not allow your circumstances to have power over you, nor steal your joy. 

You have worked too hard for the joy that is in your life. 

I promised you, My Peace and Joy; no matter what is going on in your life. 

It is a peace that surpasses all understanding, and it is for you to have now. 

Believe I AM your provider. 

Believe I AM your joy. 

Oh Precious One, just keep your hope in Me, and your worry and fears will leave you. Turn over to Me that which is troubling you and watch as I saturate it with My Peace. It’s My desire for you to walk in My Supernatural Peace and in the fullness of My Joy, knowing that I am faithful to bring My glory into your situation. 

Put your hope in Me and you will not be disappointed.

Meditate on My Word:

Romans 12:12 - Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 

Psalm 25:2 - O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 

May Cover Photo (2015)

Know that God is Right there with You. You Must Keep Going. (4.30.15)

My Child,
You have felt like your work is in vain, and that you are not getting anywhere. You feel like you have been working the same spot over and over; and still you do not see a change. Know that I am right there with you, and know that none of your work has been in vain.

I have been there all along, and as you have put your hand to the task faithfully, I have been working behind the scenes.  I just need you to keep working, and to keep trusting in Me - knowing that the rains are near and that the many seeds you  planted will blossom.

My blessing is upon you and nothing can stop that.  You must never forget that I am the one who makes everything come together for your good. Just keep on pushing forward in My love and keep on trusting in My power.  I have you in My Hand, and I want you to know that nothing has been in vain, so you must keep going.

Not one moment has been wasted.

You must keep going.

 

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD:

Psalm 9:10 - And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.  
 
Hebrews 10:35 - Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 

I Am With You; For I have Called & Anointed You for Great Things (4.29.15)

My Child,
You have been distressed lately and suffering in silence.

However, through your pain and tears, you are still crying out for more of Me.
My child, I’ve heard you, and I am going to honor your request.
I will fill those empty places in your life with more of Me than ever before.
There is nothing greater you can ask for than to have more of Me in your life.

Dear child, I called you and anointed you for great things.

However, you have allowed thoughts from the past to come in and linger in your mind. The enemy is using those thoughts to torment and hinder you from moving forward.  This is why you’ve been suffering in silence.

My child, fret no more, for I am with you;
and I have given you the power to stop the works of the enemy.
If you use My name to bind and cast out what the enemy is trying to do,
I will raise up a standard against the evil one;
and he will not harm you anymore.

Long ago, I placed My Words in your heart,
and it is time that you speak them forth by faith.

Speak forth My Words continually and they will destroy
the stronghold of the enemy coming against you. 

Speak forth all that I have given you.
Speak forth all that I have shown you, and you will cause the enemy to flee.
For he cannot stand the Word of the Lord.

And, My child, stop worrying about
whether you are in the right place - for you are.

I have placed you exactly where you need to be.
And I have you doing what needs to be done during this season.
My precious child, I adore you, I am so proud of you.
And I am with you
 

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD:

1 Samuel 12:24 - Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Isaiah 59:19 - So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

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.

Luke 10:19 - Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Cultivating the Soil of Our Hearts, to Produce Good Fruit (4.28.15)

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit. - Matthew 7:17-18

Faith Believers,

What type of example do you set when faced with difficulties and turmoil?

Jesus used the example of fruit trees when he said, You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? - Matthew 7:16

What kind of fruit are you bearing? Cherry trees all look similar until the cherries are ripe. Only then can you tell a sweet cherry from a sour cherry. The tree itself doesn’t decide what kind of fruit to bear; the type of species determines what is produced. In the same way, our fruit shows what is inside of us - our inner character, as it were.

Several years ago I accepted the challenge to look for three things each day to be thankful for. Regardless of what the day holds, there are always things that I can thank GOD for. I make a conscious choice to look to my Heavenly Father, the giver of all good gifts, and trust that He will indeed work it all together for my good. 

In that way, I cultivate the soil of my heart, which in turn produces the fruit that the world sees when they look at my life.

As we go through our daily lives, are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work His fruit in our lives? Does how we live show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control toward others? Or do we act out in anger, frustration and bitterness when the pressures and stresses of life are applied? 

_________

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Holy Spirit is at work in my life 

and that He can produce His fruit in me. 

Help me to choose daily to give thanks, 

to rejoice always and to cultivate 

the soil of my heart; 

so that I can respond in love and understanding 

when things become  unraveled and stressed. 

Amen.

Though We May Fail to Pray & Spend Time with God (4.27.15)

When He rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, He found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. ‘Why are you sleeping?’ He asked them. ‘Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.’ - Luke 22:45-46

Faith Believers,
Do you often say to GOD, “This week will be different; I’ll spend more time reading the Bible, more time in prayer, more time in thankful meditation.  I promise!!”

But despite our intentions, after a few days we revert back to our old ways. We let things like sleep, television, and the Internet creep into the time we had intentionally put aside for GOD. This pattern repeats itself endlessly.  Many of us have struggled with praying and reading the Bible, ever since we first decided to follow Jesus. Even though we know better, and even though we know that praying and spending time with GOD is necessary for our spiritual growth - we still neglect them. We fail constantly.

As we read about Jesus’ disciples who fell asleep when they were supposed to be praying, we should find a small bit of comfort. At least we are not alone in our failings. When Jesus found the disciples in their unconscious state, I can just imagine the disappointment in His voice and how He felt. Here He was in anguish, moments before His arrest, His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground - Luke 22:44. And His disciples were sleeping. They failed to follow Jesus words. They failed to pray.

But the story doesn’t end there. Though Jesus expected more from His disciples in that moment, He still chose to use them to spread His message of hope to the world. And though we may disappoint Jesus time and time again, He has limitless compassion and grace for us. And He will still choose to use us as His representatives on earth.

What an amazing GOD we serve!!

__________

Dear Jesus,

Forgive me when I neglect to spend time with You. 
I pray that You would give me the discipline
and the desire, to grow in my relationship with You.

Thank You, that despite the times when I fail,
You still choose me to be an agent of Your kingdom, 
a messenger of light to this world.

Amen.

Putting on God's Armor Daily, Alert to the Battle (4.26.15)

But thanks be to GOD! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ - 1 Corinthians 15:57

Faith Believers,
When I put on GOD’s armor daily,
I am reminded that I am in a battle.

I am aware that I will have to face the plots and schemes of satan, and his helpers, this day. But I am confident and assured that I will follow the Commander-in-Chief, who is Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Jesus has provided both victory and protection for me, in the midst of the day’s struggles. Jesus has given me His very own armor.

So with great joy, I pray.  Gratefully accepting and clothing myself with His armor. Alert to the battle, and prepared through prayer, I move through the day’s battles.  Not with fear, but with confidence, in my Lord’s victory.

GOD will give His children victory
over anything satan may try to bring against them. 

  - Marilyn
______

Lord,

Today, I thank You for Your armor.

In faith now, I put Your armor on,
that I will be fully clothed with You, Lord Jesus,
as I take my stand against the enemy.

I submit myself fully to You, Lord,
resisting the devil, and
believing Your Word, that he will flee from me.

Thank You for the victory You provide daily
on my behalf.

In Your name, Jesus Christ I pray. 

Amen

In Your Darkest Hour (4.25.15)

My Child,
I know the season you’re in, and although you may see little evidence of anything wonderful happening, never forget the good things I’ve done for you. Forget not My tender mercies. Haven’t I always been there in your time of need? How soon you forget My love when your way seems dark. However, in your darkest hour, don’t you know that I am with you? I am shining a light on the blessings you may have overlooked.

I am always there.

Please reflect upon My mercy and goodness, for they will lead you through the valley, into a brighter, new day. Remember that My mercy and My love are unending towards you, so be at peace, and know that this difficulty will pass. Never stop praying, and believing, for the impossible to happen in your life. Keep your hope in Me alive, and constantly remember My loving kindness and mercy towards you.

______

MEDITATE ON HIS WORD:
 

Isaiah 63:7 - Psalm 86:13 -  Lamentations 3:18‐26 - Hebrews 13:15