Devotions 11-20

11.  STILL SMALL VOICE

Lord, just keep on pressing me to Yourself in the way I speak,

in the way I listen, in the way I respond to Your still, small voice.

I want to hear and obey.

I want to trust You with the results.

I want You to do all that You desire without

me getting in the way.

My voice is still and small most of the time.  There is a very good reason why I don't scream and shout My will and leading at you...I want you to keep your heart and ear attuned to Me.  I want you to choose to hear and listen.  I want you to hear Me because you love Me and can't resist the sound of My voice, however softly it may call you.

That is the way I listen to you, you know.  I don't wait for you to scream and shout.  I love you, and My ear is always attentive to your voice and to your heart.  I am always with you, and I know every beat of your heart and every sigh of your spirit.  Bring everything to Me, and I will lift you up and care for you and work all things together for good.

Take care to keep your ears open to My voice, and when I give you instruction or come upon you with a manifestation of My Spirit, trust Me.  Remember that I will not shout at you or force you to do My will.  I will whisper in your ear.  Oh, love Me enough to be listening and then obey and stand amazed when you see what I can do through you.

I AM who I say that I AM.

I AM God Almighty, and you shall stand and see Me do amazing things that if I had told you in advance, you would not have believed them.  I can do far more than you can imagine or even ask because My power works in you.  All that you can dream of accomplishing or attaining in the terms of My kingdom is only a shadowy reflection of the dream which I have for you.  You may not understand the road I ask you to follow.  It may, in fact, seem to be leading in the opposite direction.  Remember always that My ways are higher than yours are, and I see the end from the beginning.  I will perfect you, confirm you, strengthen you, and establish you for My glory.

1 Kings 19:11-12; Psalm 116:2; Isaiah 50:4-5; Philippians 4:6; Romans 8:28;

Habakkuk 1:5; John 14:12; Ephesians 3:20-21; Isaiah 55:8-9; Isaiah 46:10;

1 Peter 5:10

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12.  MISUNDERSTANDING


Misunderstanding, accusation, and suspicion are difficult to endure.
We each see from our own perspective and interpret one another's
actions according to our own limited view.
Teach us, Lord, to believe the best while not quenching
the Spirit's discernment.
How do we keep balance in the middle of confusion?

What you call confusion can be My Spirit breaking through the status quo and breathing life where only death and religion have entered before.  I am a God on the move; I am not stagnant.  It is true that I never change, but it is just as true that I forever change those whom I redeem and situations where I intervene.  That change can hurt and be uncomfortable, but it will bear the marks of peace, order, and reasonableness.

I am a practical God, not practical in the sense people think of when they live by their senses and only believe what they see, but practical in the way I deal with My people and address what needs to be addressed.  Do not think that My ways are always beyond your grasp.  It is true that they are higher and different than your natural tendencies, but I have created you to be a vessel of My Spirit and have equipped you to know both Me and My ways.  I do not hide from My friends what I do, but I tell them and instruct them in the way they should go and what I desire.

Do not be surprised when people chafe, misinterpret, and misunderstand.  No one hears My voice clearly at all times due usually to their own agendas and desires.  Always be open to My instruction as you walk through an experience; I may correct your view as you go.  Be humble and realize I may not be done showing you My heart in this yet, but expect that I will, and ask Me to guide you daily.  Walk in love and patience, and do not shrink from the words or actions of others.  Do not hold it to their account---put it on Mine.  I am teaching them, too.

Do not think that I have forgotten My plan, purpose, and will for your life.  I am still bringing it to perfection, and My timing is perfect.  Hold fast to your hope, and remember My promises, especially those I have spoken to your own heart.  I keep My word.  Praise Me even when you don't feel like it.  Keep praying.  You and your children can and will inherit the land.

Hebrews 13:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12;

Hebrews 13:20-21; John 15:14-15; Psalm 32:8; Matthew 10:24-26; John 16:13-14;

1 Peter 3:14-17; Hebrews 12:14-15; Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 6:17-20;

Hebrews 13:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Psalm 25:13; Psalm 69:36

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13.  HIS BLOOD

My heart is sad, Lord, when I see many who profess to be Yours treat

You and Your blood cheaply and carelessly.

None of us realize the depth and extent of Your sacrifice for us

or how completely our debt has been paid by it.

To assume that we can sin and then skip merrily into

Your presence and claim Your forgiveness with hardly a thought

is a sacrilege and a tragedy.

It breaks My heart, too.  I have provided for forgiveness, full forgiveness, but only on the basis of repentance.  Repentance means that the person is forsaking the sin and taking a whole new direction of mind and heart.  When there is repentance, the blood of My Son can cleanse from all sin.

Read again of the Old Testament sacrifices; they are there for your help and understanding.  Every day the priests were occupied with the killing of animals, draining the blood, dividing the animal, and offering it to Me.  The people bringing sacrifices had to slay the animal, drain the blood, and divide the animal.  They were covered with blood.  That blood stayed on them as they returned to their homes.  They could never escape the realization that blood was required to pay for their sins, and it was repeated over and over and over.  Multiply that scene by millions, all the multitude of Israel bringing their sacrifices to the altar.  There was blood everywhere.  Even so, the scene had to be continually repeated.  Then came My Son, and His one sacrifice of His life and blood was ALL that was needed for eternity past and future to pay for the sins of all mankind.

Is it because you didn't see it with your own eyes that you treat His sacrifice with such contempt, as though it were a small thing?  The blood of My Son is the most powerful force in the universe and was spilled for you so that you can receive the life it brings.  It still brings life; it still brings deliverance; it still brings healing; it still brings forgiveness.  Dare not think that you can treat it as insignificant or cheaply obtained.  I ask for your life in return, given over to Me as a sweet-smelling sacrifice of obedience and praise.

I love you with an everlasting love, and I have proven it.  I plan for your welfare and your future, and I give you hope.  I also am a holy God, who will not be mocked or scorned.  Do not believe that because there seems to be no repercussions for these actions that I do not know or care.  I wait to bring judgment that all may have opportunity to repent and My church may be made complete.  Then the day will arrive, and those who are truly Mine will be separated from those who live for themselves, and everlasting reward and punishment will be irrevocably executed.  It is My desire that you be with Me; choose for yourself your way or Mine.

Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19; Hebrews 8; Hebrews 2:1-3a; Hebrews 13:20-21;

Jeremiah 31:3; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 50:16-23; 2 Peter 3:9;

Matthew 25:31-46; Romans 8:1

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14.  RUSHING DAYS

My days have been rushing by with ups and downs,

full of light and dark.  I'm so grateful to know that You are here

in the midst of it all, and that none of these changes

confuse or surprise You.

Not only do none of these things confuse or surprise Me, but I have designed each one with love and with a heart which seeks always your welfare.  I am not just with you as you try to juggle and manage life; I am your Life.  Each detail, no matter what other factors may be involved at its beginning, reaches you only through My love, My care, and My will.

If you accept it from My hand with a heart of thanksgiving, I pour out My blessing in that circumstance.

Do not chafe and squirm under the yoke I place on you, for have created it especially for you.  Every part of it serves My purpose in your life.  Would you resist the hand which created you and longs only to bring you to full blessing?  Perhaps My ways seem twisted and backward to you---did you truly believe that you would be able to understand all that I do?

Rest and be at peace in the midst of your hectic life.  I have everything under My control, and that is infinitely better than you having if under yours.  Trust all of your days to Me, for I love you.

Romans 8:28; Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 

Matthew 11:28-30; Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Romans 9:21; Isaiah 55:8-10;

Romans 11:33-36; Philippians 4:4-8

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15.  ASK FOR YOURSELF


What, Father, Daddy, do You think of me?
What do You want to give to me?

I long to bless you...to grant the desire of your heart, but you do not ask.

But I have asked, Lord, at times.  I don't want to be selfish...
I have a selfish heart which needs to be kept down
and taught to focus on others.

Do you think that I only have a limited amount of grace and love and blessing to go around, that you may ask only for others?  ASK Me to fulfill your own desire.  Do not come like a martyr and confess your desire as a weakness from which to be purified.  It is not humble or selfless to be a martyr in My presence---it is pride---a pride which will not receive like a child.  It is independence which says you must be strong and brave.  I came because you are neither strong nor brave.  I gave Myself fully for you at Calvary, and still give Myself fully to you here and now.  Do not reject or refuse Me.  Of course you do not deserve My blessing of your own merit...but have you forgotten?

I adopted you as My very own.

You are the apple of My eye.

I think of you all the time.

Would you satisfy the desire of My love by taking it freely and enjoying it fully?  It would make Me so very happy to see you rejoicing in and drawing deeply from My endless love for you.

Please come.

Be My child...let Me be your Father.

Be My bride...let Me be your Bridegroom.

I have said that you will be like a well watered garden which drinks in the water of life for itself.  Yes, there will be fruit, an abundance of fruit, but that is My part.  Your part is to receive from Me.  Trust Me to prune, purify, and refine.  Do not struggle to do it yourself.  Receive freely from Me and My abundance, and others will be blessed, too, because you will confidently pray to the Daddy whom you know hears you, answers you, and loves you.

Receive.

Rest.

Rejoice.

Psalm 27:4-5; Ephesians 1:3-8,18-19; Zechariah 2:8; Isaiah 58:11; John 15;

Matthew 7:7-8; Philippians 4:4-7

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16.  DISCERNMENT AND PASSION

Father, how have I been so slow of heart not to understand my sin

and foolishness?  Your gift of discernment in me sees things that are wrong,

but it has been easier to justify myself and make my point than to pray

for Your correction and revelation.

I'm not even sure if I want things corrected, or if I want to see

it all unravel and fall apart.

How we all stand in need of Your merciful correction that

will not destroy, but rather purify.

I do not despise the passion that you have to see things made right.  My passion is far greater, and I have placed that deposit within you.  Do not give the enemy of your soul an opportunity to destroy you by allowing anger.  You do not call it anger, but that is what it is.  You are angry at Me because I haven't done things the way you see that they need to be done.  You want things to be right, but I have allowed them to be wrong.  You are angry at those who are wrong and see no need to repent or obey.  You are angry at yourself for not being content in the midst of so many personal blessings.  You are angry at not being able to make your own decisions as you see best.

Bring your anger to Me; let Me take it.  I will put it on My Son along with all the things that are not right.  He has paid in full for all of it.  Let His payment be enough, and let Me decide what is best for you and the people around you.

My Son died that the souls of men might be set free to love and obey Me, free from sin, free from religion and hypocrisy.  Do not think for a moment that it is a lack of holy passion that causes Me to allow the wrongs that you see.  I make you a witness and participant in the messiness of life, sometimes to use you as a part of the solution, sometimes to grow in your own heart just the kind of fruit that only these conditions can produce.  I may allow these wrongs simply to grow and bring dimension to your own heart.  The passion I have given you is a part of that process, so never abandon it.

Cultivate thankfulness in every contrary situation.

Trust Me for your own heart and delight in Me.

Yes, be passionate that others know and serve Me,

but be more passionate that you love Me and receive My love

every moment.

For you are My garden, and I am your keeper.  I water you every moment.  I guard you night and day that nothing should damage you.  I delight in you, and I am the faithful vine-dresser who alone an bring forth the fruit you were created to produce.

Let Me do My work.

Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 4:18-21; Psalm 37:3-9; Isaiah 27:2-3; John 15

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17.  COME RUN WITH ME


Lord, this hunger is so deep and so keen that it is almost unbearable.
My mind and my heart are yearning for Your presence and power
to be formed in me---
not to make me something, but that I may be so one with You,
and You so one with me, that all Your ways and will are
fulfilled and You are glorified.
I need more of Your Holy Spirit---
I need to be absolutely overcome by You.

Your prayer is My desire also.  Be assured that you are praying in perfect harmony with My will for you.  Keep on asking, seeking, and knocking and expect to receive the full answer to your request, for I will do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all that you can ask or think.  Your hunger brings great honor to Me.  I have heard your cries, and My answer to you will be sure.

Do not despair or become disheartened, but rather rejoice with great anticipation.  Watch closely and expectantly for Me and for the approach of My presence.  You will not be disappointed or put to shame.  You have My promise that I am with you always and will never leave or forsake you; therefore, you have already begun to receive that for which you seek.  But yes, there is much, much more, for you can never exhaust the life of an infinite God.  I am ever willing and anxious to give more of Myself to an open and seeking heart.  Seek, with confidence in My answer and in My timing.  The gifts that I give are the very best and are all the sweeter for the waiting.

I love you so much, and I have so much more for you.  Come run with Me, and I will share all with you, and we will have sweet, sweet, intimate communion.  Don't worry that you don't understand how to run; just keep your eyes on Me.

Don't let anything distract you from following Me, and you will be surprised to find that you are indeed running, flying, and soaring far higher than you ever dreamed possible.

John 14:16-23; 1 John 5:14-15; Matthew 7:7-8; Ephesians 3:16-21; 

Proverbs 8:34-35; Hebrews 13:5; Jeremiah 29:13; James 1:17;

Song of Solomon 2:8-17; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 4:4

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18.  HELPLESS WITHOUT YOU

Oh, Lord, I need You.  I pour out my heart to You, Father, as a child---

a completely helpless child.  There is nothing I can do to make You speak

to me or answer my prayers, but I ask You, 

my loving and merciful Friend, to reveal to me Your presence.

I have been prideful, manipulating, fearful, arrogant, cynical,

and unbelieving in my spiritual life.

I repent of looking down on some people because I thought they

were too far from God to teach me anything.

How arrogant is that?  How sinful is that?

I was the one walking far from God.

I need You to so fill me that Your humility, grace,

and compassion are mine as well.

I know that I cannot work up those qualities---

they are Yours alone.

Please make me so aware of Your voice, and so distrusting

of my own heart that I hear Your Spirit stopping me and I obey.

I need Your voice and Your guidance for every area of my life.

I can do nothing on my own.

It is true that you can do nothing of eternal good or value without Me.  You can do a great deal, but without Me it is only chaff that will not last.  I love you, and I want to have a relationship with you that is full and open and without hindrance or reserve.  I want you to be completely Mine, and I want to be completely yours---you in Me, and I in you.

Is this really what you want?  Do you want Me to invade every area of our daily life and practice: how about your parenting, your marriage, your personally traits that you put confidence in?  Do you want Me to tell you how to eat, sleep, work, play, drive, keep house, go to church, or treat people?  I'll be glad to do it.  Are you ready to hear and obey?

It is not a little holy nudge that you are asking for.  Search your own heart and see if you are willing to be wholly Mine in an ever-deepening way.  I am willing to have that intimacy with you; in fact, I long for it.

I long for it, too. I am willing.  Help my unwillingness.

I put no confidence in my devotion or love.

I place all my hope in Your love and power and mercy.

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19.  THESE THINGS ARE YOURS


Lord, to You I give my praise; to You I give my life.
You are the breath of my life and the keeper of my soul.
I wish I knew how to offer You what You deserve.
It grieves me to know how quickly I am distracted from You and
how far I can fall from that close fellowship which we share.
It is my heart's desire to remain in perfect union with You at all times.
I long for the day when that becomes reality.

It is reality, My child.  Here and now you are held by My love in that place for which you long.  Even when you fall into sin, you are not pulled away from Me, for I know your heart.  I know that you will come running back to Me, for I inhabit all of time, and I already see it.  I already provided for it.  I already died and rose again for it.

Do not castigate yourself for your humanity.  I was human, too.  I know how it feels to be tired, to feel weak and unequal to the task.  The resources of the Godhead were Mine, it is true, but they are yours also.

I give Myself to you for your life and your walk.  I see every step and turn of the way, and I make provision to meet every need.  You must begin to see what is already yours and count on it.  You will fail to enter that level of life and rest only if you fail to believe and step into it.

You are seated with Me in heavenly places.

You are given authority over the powers of this world.

You have all you need for life and godliness.

You are the head and not the tail.

I wait on your prayers to accomplish My will in the affairs of this world.

You are precious to Me.

You are in the beloved.

You are Mine.

I am yours.

I rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

Do you ever hear Me?

Never forget who you are and all that is yours.  I know you do not feel these things are true, but they are true because I cannot lie.  So trust Me and not your feelings.  Begin to take action on what I say, and you will see that My words do not fail.  Be encouraged, take heart, and be strong and very courageous.  I am with you, not only forever, but now in this situation.  I have prepared and completed all that is needed for you to fulfill all My desire for you.  So walk, pray, and work with confidence that because of Me nothing you undertake will be in vain.

It is not your good works or effort that sustains our union; it is Me and My shed blood.  You are fully redeemed and kept by My power.  Know Me, and draw peace from the knowledge that I am holding you.  I am always nearer than your next breath.

Hebrews 4:15; Romans 6:4; Hebrews 3:12019; Hebrews 4:9-11; Ephesians 2:4-7;

Ephesians 1:18-23; 2 Peter 1:3; Deuteronomy 28:13; Isaiah 45:11; Ephesians 1:6;

Zephaniah 3:17; Hebrews 6:17-20; Joshua 1:9; Matthew 28:20; Ephesians 2:10;

1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Hebrews 10:19-25

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20.  NOTHING AND NOBODY

Lord, do You remember when I told You I wanted You to increase

and me to decrease?

Do You remember how I wanted to lose my own identity and

be swept up in Your purposes, plans, and life?

Do You remember how I wanted You to make me humble?

You never told me, Lord, that it was going to hurt.

I guess I should have known.

I seem to have become of no account or influence.

I impress no one, least of all myself.

I recognize a great desire in me to be recognized

and considered somebody.

I'm ashamed of my pride.

Self doesn't die easily or without a fight.  I want You to win that fight.

Help me to be still under Your hand so that You

can complete the work You have started.

I am answering your deepest heart-cries, and yes, it can hurt.  But no pain is ever wasted when it is given into My hands.  It is not an accident that your circumstances have made you feel void of power and influence.  It is My hand that lifts up one and puts down another.  I have My own reasons for hemming you into this corner at this time and for putting others in the forefront.

The desire for power and influence is a God-given desire and is not wrong in itself.  It is only wrong if you seek to fulfill it outside of Me.  I am the One with whom you need to have power, and you do have it.  Do not concern yourself that your influence is not evident with people. Influence Me---by a holy life, by prayer, by petition, by praise, by a willingness to be nothing and nobody.

I need you to be nothing and nobody right now if I will ever use you in the way that I have prepared.  Come to My heart--I take nothings and nobodies.  I take the foolish of this world to confound the wise.  Do not look for respect and place among people.  Your respect and your place are with Me, and I will keep them.  I will present them on that day when you stand before Me in white and I declare that you are Mine.

I have commanded that you be saved rescued from all that you encounter.  It is a standing order and effective on the condition that you come continually to Me.  Tell of My wondrous ways with you and let My praise be on your lips.  Speak to Me as you come.  Does it matter what others may hear or think?  Let Me determine who hears your voice and what influence you have.  Keep coming to Me and find your needs satisfied, even overflowing, in My presence.

Psalm 75:7; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 4:5;

Psalm 71; Psalm 16:11

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