Darkness

Sometimes one feels absolute darkness, other times it is as if it feels like a nothingness - silence.

He showed me about this, this last weekend.

Some people may want to panic and rush around saying words that definitely don't help the situation. Others may want to sit down, depressed. 

BUT

at time like these remember that He never leaves you nor forsakes you. So that is a truth to hang on to. The situation says otherwise but the Truth confirms His utmost love for you.

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."

Then gently put one foot in front of the other and go about your day.

Praise Him. This is the best way to remove darkness from your life.

In Judges 20:18 God sent Judah first into battle

"And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Who of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first."

Judah (Praise) was sent forth first and the battle was one!!

As I go about my daily life with praise on my lips, it penetrates every aspect of my life. It allows God to move the obstacles out of the way. It even has a huge affect on my dreams - they are peaceful and happy.

PRAISE THE LORD!!

In Isaiah 42:16 He encourages us:

" I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

HALLELUJAH!!

NEVER doubt it!!!!!

I mean NEVER!!!

GOD LOVES YOU!!!!

There are myriads of Christians who are concentrating on where they are missing it, instead of basking in His love. This brings a world of insecurity and depression, and a feeling of having to perform. 

His whole Kingdom is centred and operated by love because God IS love. That is why our lives are attacked in this area.

God showed me today how His power operates through love too.

When we know who we are in Christ then we are secure! Out of this will flow His power to do all that He shows us to do.

I heard a teaching the other day. Jesus was so secure and victorious when He was tempted in the wilderness because He experienced His Father's love.

Matthew 3 v 17

"..."This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.""

At this point He had done no miracles yet. He was just loved because He was His son. It wasn't about works.

We are His bride - He loves us. He gazes at us in adoration!

You are deeply, deeply loved. Rest in that. 

He is Beautiful!

All day everyday, He sends love letters to us!

THANK YOU LORD!

Everywhere we look we see the beauty He puts there for us to enjoy!

THANK YOU LORD!

Thank you Father that you loved us so much that you sent Jesus. 

Thank you Jesus that you did the Father's will.

Thank you Holy Spirit for comforting and guiding us.

This is my love letter to you Lord. 

You are my First Love, my Faithful and True,

my Beloved.

I love you Lord!

Deep Love!!!

Are you loving with a deep love or has it grown cold?

When the disciples asked Jesus what would be the sign of His coming, and of the end of the age, one of the things He answered was:

Matthew 24 v 12

"'And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.""

We cannot take love lightly for our God is love and He works in love.

John 13 v 34, 35

""A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.""

He supplies seed to the sower, so the more love you sow the more you will receive. Are you feeling unloved? - sow more love (genuine) and watch as it flows back to you. If at first you don't see it, remember when you sow seeds in the ground it takes a while to germinate. 

1 John 2 v 10

"He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him."

Lesson on the Loo!

I feel strongly from the Lord to write about this.

While on the loo today, the Lord told me an analogy. We go to the loo everyday to expel excrement. It is vital that we do this as the toxins need to be removed out of our system. If this is not done regularly then they are reabsorbed into our systems causing damage. If left for a short time it can cause headaches and discomfort. If left for a long time then it can cause serious problems.

He wants us to know that it is the same with issues that have not been dealt with in our lives. It could be unconfessed sin or disobedience.

Jesus has paid the price for sin, once and for all, for all mankind.

So as Christians we have accepted He has done this for us and are no longer sinners. But when we slip and sin or choose to be disobedient, then we need to repent. If we don't and we leave it for a short time it causes small issues in our lives and if left for a long time, it can really cause damage.

Repentance is not something to run away from like it is something bad - no - it is something so wonderful, designed by our loving Father to keep our whole life free from toxic repercussions.

1 John 1 v 9

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Praise the Lord!!!!

Repentance is not beating ourselves over the head and falling into deep depression - no - when the Lord pin points things in our lives, let's say we are sorry (obviously mean it) and sort it out as soon as we can. Then walk on in the liberation and joy that comes with repentance. There may be consequences from our sin/disobedience but after repentance He gives us the grace to deal with that too - Hallelujah!

Philippians 4 v 13

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Have you ever been through a time when it seems your prayers are not being heard??? There are piles of questions and no answers in your mind???

People have said they hear nothing. Well the Lord allowed me to go through a time like that - now I understand.

There are things that stood out for me in this revelation.

There are 'facts' BUT there is 'Truth'!

The facts may be - 'I don't feel that the Lord is there.'

BUT

The Truth says - 

"...For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.""

                                                                     Hebrews 13 v 5

The facts may be - 'He doesn't answer me.'

BUT

The Truth says - 

"'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'"

                                                             Jeremiah 33 v 3

The facts may be - 'I can't do this any more.'

BUT

The Truth says - 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

                                    Philippians 4 v 13

The Lord showed me to press in no matter what is 'seems' like.

"I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3 v 14

To believe what He says not what the facts say.

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?   Numbers 23 v 19

And such an important lesson I learned that out ways anything else - TO PRAISE HIM.

"Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against..., who had come against Judah; and they were defeated."

                                 2 Chronicles 20 v 23

It works EVERY TIME! 

Perspective

Could it be as simple as that?

I think a huge part of our day can be changed by simply changing our perspective!

I was listening to a pod-cast yesterday. A gentleman called Andy Andrews (andyandrews.com) was speaking on this topic. He gave a few examples from a gentleman that he knew called Jones, which I would like to share as they made such sense!

He said, "We don't 'have' to look after these kids - we 'get' to. There are so many people out there, that would love to have children and for some reason can't. We don't 'have' to mow the lawn - we 'get' to. There are people out there who would love to have a home with a lawn to mow. We don't 'have' to go to work - we 'get' to. How many people out there would love to have a job?

I was very touched by this. It can be implemented into every part of our day.

I don't 'have' to - I 'get' to.

Philippians 4 v 8

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things."

I 'get' to love and have a relationship with God (Ruler of the WHOLE universe) - Wow!!! What an honour!!!!