I was the lost sheep that the Shepherd found. He called me by name, and mercifully rescued me from the pit! With my head resting on my Father’s chest, I asked Him to forgive me for running away, and for all the things I had got myself mixed up in. My good Father quickly said, “You are forgiven and all is forgotten! Now let us focus on the great plans I have for you!” Oh Lord, thank You for making me a brand new creation! I will follow You all the days of my life! Your Word is a lamp that guides my choices and steps.  Speak, for my heart is listening and I am willing to speak the word You give me, and go to wherever You direct me! AMEN

To obtain and maintain peace depends on our decision to run to God, or to our old habits.  Our Father gave us the freedom to choose Him. It is time to DECIDE.  His way brings us into peace.  Our way is to hold onto our past and have a pity party.  Clinging to God, or onto our bitter, justified resentments?  It is our choice to remain in CHAOS. We either choose to live according to our fluctuating  emotions, or we choose to live in the peace of a willing Spirit. Floods, fires, and earthquake devastation have come upon millions. Today, our daily  choices are on the world stage. With the freedom to choose, we select  peace, mercy and hope — or stress, anger, and blame. We offer comfort and compassion or we give into the pressure to point fingers?  If you are feeling overwhelmed, sad, depressed or angry, read on. Our daily choices of thought and action can bring us breakthrough, or sink us deeper into the chaos. We have the  freedom to chose peace, mercy and hope — or stress, anger, and bitterness. God never gave us a promise of a tension free life.

A servant of God remains pure in heart and in step with the Spirit.  We stop the devil’s schemes with a word. The devil has zero time or authority over those who walk in wisdom! He who dwells within us sniffs out danger and He pricks us with keen discernment. Any attempt to distract us, or cause confusion is halted with a single word! JESUS!  “And forgive us our sins, as we forgive others, and lead us not into a temptation to be offended, but DELIVER us from evil.” Jesus taught the first prayer of deliverance! We are in good company when we suffer the pain of rejection. Truth is, even when we obey God, we can feel dumb, or nothing at all. Life can feel flat even when we read Scripture. We may feel zero peace, zero fire, and not a whisper of reassurance. The hard truth is that God never promised emotional feedback. Jesus promised His faithfulness. Christ did not save us by giving us a feeling. Jesus saved us by giving us Himself. Our obedience does not give us instant gratification. Our obedience gives Him glory. Hallelujah!

Wisely we surrender our emotions to the Spirit, so He can renew our mind.  Then we suddenly increase in His strength and power to persevere. Isaiah 26:3-4 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.” The servants who regularly rely on the Spirit, keep their hearts pure through repentance.  We must gladly choose to foil the devil’s plan! Stand firm in faith by forgiving others quickly. Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will NOT forgive your sins.” Forgive to obtain peace and honor God.

When people compete with you, or visa versa, it is wise to remember that a sense of competition is caused by an unstable identity in Christ.  Insecure people become jealous and gossip to tear down others. Evil thoughts enter as accusing spirits enlist the weak to speak lies and falsely accuse others. Remember, the devil’s aim is to kill our joy and destroy our reliance on the truth. With ears to hear, we ask Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment.  Keep your heart pure and stay focused on how God is calling you to respond.

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke chapter 6.

Maintain faith in His plan to prosper us with giant portions of mercy. Offense is a tool of the enemy. It is rooted in pride and selfishness.  The scheme of the devil is to get followers of Christ to become offended. Choose not to be offended when someone disagrees with your belief, style, or gifting. When a servant of God remains pure in heart and obedient to God, the devil can not stop the plans of God for their life. Trust and Obey the Word of God and He is faithful to direct our steps.

The devil seeks to mess with the pure in heart. The devil was frustrated that he could not stop God’s plan for the disciples of Christ. He seeks to kill and destroy, look around.  Hearts are filled with offense, bitterness, and anger. As servants of God we keep our hearts pure through repentance. The devil is defeated by our choice to forgive quickly. A new command, not a suggestion.  “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you MUST love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, IF you love one another.” John 13:34

“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything NEW!’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and TRUE.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” Revelation 21:5  — The Shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Splash this good news around. Overflow with His abundance! Abounding in grace, we serve fresh, living water gladly. Meet the thirsty with a cup that will never run dry. His endless supply of love is unlike anything this world has to offer. We offer delicious food to the hungry. Our Father gave us all a buffet of gifts to share. It is fun to bubble up and offer FREE food to the NEEDY.  How wonderful is our Father to gift us all so uniquely!

Throughout history, God has called, forgiven, equipped, and purified ordinary people like you and me. His message is often rejected. As His light, we reflect His love and offer compassion. So shine the Light and pierce hopelessness. God desires to redeem all of humanity through His son, the Man of sorrows as prophesied by God’s messenger Isaiah.

Our heart is infused by the Spirit of God. He brings us light, love, joy, compassion, wisdom, discernment, grace, and mercy. If we are not fully possessed by God, we may have invited some dark spirits in. They enter when we entertain doubt, fear, hate, anger, self-pity, envy, pride or gossip.  When we enter the Holy Presence of God in prayer, we are transported into a spiritual dimension. Supernatural resources are available to us in the throne room. His mighty power is above all power and darkness. The demonic enemy of our soul is there to accuse us night and day. Our Advocate objects and the the blood of Jesus, the accuser loses as the Judge of all announces His irreversible verdict.

Picture the Father as the Sun. The bright Light is Jesus.  The Warmth is the Holy Spirit. We sense His warmth with a smile. The Light pierces our doubts and we look up and praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His Warmth melts down any resistance to trust and obey. As He reveals any impure motive or any  hidden resentment, humbly we quickly confess and are purified and kept sharpened for His glory. Obedience has a cost. Set aside the desire to retaliate and walk in His power!

LOVING IS KNOWING. It is love that motivates our doing, our obedience. As the Lord’s ambassador we function as God’s changed instrument. Today, love in the name of Christ even if why is blurry. Clarity is needed.  A love that calls wrong right — and right wrong — is NOT gospel love. The Bible is clear about what love is. The love God extends is generous in patience. It is a love that is not envious or selfish. If we opt for silence to avoid issues, are we really hearing from the Holy Spirit? God is not silent, His love is loud and clear. When we don’t want to deal with His nudge,  out of His great love, our Father discipline us.

Personal sacrifice is needed to love like Jesus.  Any judgment, or critical condemnation does not come from a loving servant of God. Those attitudes put us in the way of what the Lord is doing. We are to grant everyone the same love and patience that we received from the Lord.

Refuse to condemn, but do not condone. Offer people a humble, patient, gentle, forbearing, and forgiving kind of love.  We must be clear as we communicate that it is NOT okay for them to take advantage for a selfish gain. When we choose to live and love as God does, our perspective shifts to His. Since God’s purpose is that we would become “partakers of the divine nature, change is always on His agenda.

If the sin of pride remains, God calls us to repent. Do not compromise in the relationships He gives us. Do not stand in the way of the Lord’s work in another person’s life. Accept that nobody is perfect. We all have lessons to learn.

𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 a day of trouble: God, may I be a humble and willing ambassador of love. Help me to fly as a new creation. Change my focus towards what You are now doing.   In the name of Jesus,  let it be done according to God’s will.