Archive for February, 2011

Do You Now Believe?”

February 28th, 2011

February 28, 2011
’By this we believe . . . .’ Jesus answered them, ’Do you now believe?’ —John 16:30-31

Now we believe. . . .” But Jesus asks, “Do you . . . ? Indeed the hour is coming . . . that you . . . will leave Me alone” (John 16:31-32). Many Christian workers have left Jesus Christ alone and yet tried to serve Him out of a sense of duty, or because they sense a need as a result of their own discernment. The reason for this is actually the absence of the resurrection life of Jesus. Our soul has gotten out of intimate contact with God by leaning on our own religious understanding (see Proverbs 3:5-6). This is not deliberate sin and there is no punishment attached to it. But once a person realizes how he has hindered his understanding of Jesus Christ, and caused uncertainties, sorrows, and difficulties for himself, it is with shame and remorse that he has to return.

We need to rely on the resurrection life of Jesus on a much deeper level than we do now. We should get in the habit of continually seeking His counsel on everything, instead of making our own commonsense decisions and then asking Him to bless them. He cannot bless them; it is not in His realm to do so, and those decisions are severed from reality. If we do something simply out of a sense of duty, we are trying to live up to a standard that competes with Jesus Christ. We become a prideful, arrogant person, thinking we know what to do in every situation. We have put our sense of duty on the throne of our life, instead of enthroning the resurrection life of Jesus. We are not told to “walk in the light” of our conscience or in the light of a sense of duty, but to “walk in the light asHe is in the light. . .” (1 John 1:7). When we do something out of a sense of duty, it is easy to explain the reasons for our actions to others. But when we do something out of obedience to the Lord, there can be no other explanation-just obedience. That is why a saint can be so easily ridiculed and misunderstood.

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February 28, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I am standing still seeking you and waiting for vision, direction, courage and hope…and the faith that seems to be growing even as I wait. Funny, I thought that the faith I was praying for would arrive all at once in a blinding flash of RIGHT NOW! But no, it seems to be growing a bit at a time. Perhaps that is the way the vision and direction will come…a bit at a time as I wait on you.

And God says…”Strength will rise as you wait on the Lord.  And you will find all you need right when you need it as you look to Me. Instead of looking for your circumstances to change, delight yourself in Me and then look back and notice how I met all your needs as you were not even paying attention to them. I even supplied the faith. I will provide the vision as well a day at a time. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. As you wait you will grow up with wings of eagles, run and not be weary as you take hold of My promises.”

The Delight of Sacrifice

February 24th, 2011

February 24, 2011
 
I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls . . . —2 Corinthians 12:15

Once “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,” we deliberately begin to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests and purposes in others’ lives (Romans 5:5). And Jesus has an interest in every individual person. We have no right in Christian service to be guided by our own interests and desires. In fact, this is one of the greatest tests of our relationship with Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, Jesus (see John 15:13). I don’t throw my life away, but I willingly and deliberately lay it down for Him and His interests in other people. And I do this for no cause or purpose of my own. Paul spent his life for only one purpose— that he might win people to Jesus Christ. Paul always attracted people to his Lord, but never to himself. He said, “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).

When someone thinks that to develop a holy life he must always be alone with God, he is no longer of any use to others. This is like putting himself on a pedestal and isolating himself from the rest of society. Paul was a holy person, but wherever he went Jesus Christ was always allowed to help Himself to his life. Many of us are interested only in our own goals, and Jesus cannot help Himself to our lives. But if we are totally surrendered to Him, we have no goals of our own to serve. Paul said that he knew how to be a “doormat” without resenting it, because the motivation of his life was devotion to Jesus. We tend to be devoted, not to Jesus Christ, but to the things which allow us more spiritual freedom than total surrender to Him would allow. Freedom was not Paul’s motive at all. In fact, he stated, “I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren . . .” (Romans 9:3). Had Paul lost his ability to reason? Not at all! For someone who is in love, this is not an overstatement. And Paul was in love with Jesus Christ.

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February 24, 2011

The memorial services for Mike were held yesterday.  It was clear that God had His hand on and in the services.  Even though the services were not integrated, only the immediate family could  tell the difference Lord. But why was it necessary to have two services Lord? Why was there such turmoil and chaos surrounding Mike’s passing?

And God Says…”It was all organized, planned and executed for the good of those that love Me, and those that will love Me. It was for My honor and glory.  There was turmoil, strong emotions, passionate people, and there was Jesus. Against such a backdrop, more people could see Jesus as He was manifest in you and others.  Trust in Me and do not rely on your own understanding. Mike’s passing continues to serve Me, as I continue to touch others as a result.”

The Determination to Serve Feb 23, 2011

February 23rd, 2011

The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve . . .—Matthew 20:28

Jesus also said, “Yet I am among you as the One who serves” (Luke 22:27). Paul’s idea of service was the same as our Lord’s— “. . . ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). We somehow have the idea that a person called to the ministry is called to be different and above other people. But according to Jesus Christ, he is called to be a “doormat” for others— called to be their spiritual leader, but never their superior. Paul said, “I know how to be abased . . .” (Philippians 4:12). Paul’s idea of service was to pour his life out to the last drop for others. And whether he received praise or blame made no difference. As long as there was one human being who did not know Jesus, Paul felt a debt of service to that person until he did come to know Him. But the chief motivation behind Paul’s service was not love for others but love for his Lord. If our devotion is to the cause of humanity, we will be quickly defeated and broken-hearted, since we will often be confronted with a great deal of ingratitude from other people. But if we are motivated by our love for God, no amount of ingratitude will be able to hinder us from serving one another.

Paul’s understanding of how Christ had dealt with him is the secret behind his determination to serve others. “I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man . . .” (1 Timothy 1:13). In other words, no matter how badly others may have treated Paul, they could never have treated him with the same degree of spite and hatred with which he had treated Jesus Christ. Once we realize that Jesus has served us even to the depths of our meagerness, our selfishness, and our sin, nothing we encounter from others will be able to exhaust our determination to serve others for His sake.

Journal 2 23 11 DJR
Good morning, Lord. Today JD buried his brother. And today my uncle died. I guess we need to get used to this. I have to admit that it is getting easier to let loved ones go… having lost our parents and now some of our classmates. The best thing is if they knew you. We can rest assured that they are better off than in the suffering.
As we get closer to that threshold ourselves, it gets clearer about serving. Serving others can get tiring … but serving them as we work out serving you … that’s getting easier and easier. And making more sense.

Youth has exuberance and gusto, but usually some folly. You are beginning to see more and more from my perspective. Keep on coming. We’ll talk a lot more when you get here.

The Discipline of Spiritual Perseverance

February 22nd, 2011
February 22, 2011
 
Be still, and know that I am God . . . —Psalm 46:10
 
 

Perseverance is more than endurance. It is endurance combined with absolute assurance and certainty that what we are looking for is going to happen. Perseverance means more than just hanging on, which may be only exposing our fear of letting go and falling. Perseverance is our supreme effort of refusing to believe that our hero is going to be conquered. Our greatest fear is not that we will be damned, but that somehow Jesus Christ will be defeated. Also, our fear is that the very things our Lord stood for— love, justice, forgiveness, and kindness among men— will not win out in the end and will represent an unattainable goal for us. Then there is the call to spiritual perseverance. A call not to hang on and do nothing, but to work deliberately, knowing with certainty that God will never be defeated.

If our hopes seem to be experiencing disappointment right now, it simply means that they are being purified. Every hope or dream of the human mind will be fulfilled if it is noble and of God. But one of the greatest stresses in life is the stress of waiting for God. He brings fulfillment, “because you have kept My command to persevere . . .” (Revelation 3:10).

Continue to persevere spiritually.

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February 22, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

It feels like I am- like the song says, just “Holding On”. Going through the motions, doing what is expected; putting one foot in front of the other. I believe that if I keep my eyes on my God, He will arrange all things for good. I believe that all the current emotional trauma and uncertainty are simply illusions, made so by my inability to know His ways. I believe God……….. help me in my unbelief.

And God says…”It is natural for you to wonder where I am when trials and troubles overcome you and yours. And your brother’s passing has made it all the more overwhelming.  But you are learning to look to Me in all circumstances, all trials.  You are learning that I am truly there even when it appears that I am nowhere to be found. You are learning to hold on in every circumstance. You are being transformed by these very circumstances”

James 1:2-4 (The Message)

 2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

 

Do You Really Love Him?

February 21st, 2011

February 21, 2011
 
She has done a good work for Me —Mark 14:6
 
 
 

If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? “She has done a good work for Me.”

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. “. . . but perfect love casts out fear . . .” once we are surrendered to God (1 John 4:18). We should quit asking ourselves, “Am I of any use?” and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

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February 21, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

It is a wonder. I never imagined that these repetitive trials would create a stronger bond and connection to my God. Many years ago, when the going got tough I started going…away.  Today the trials are much greater, or at least seem much more severe and yet they are bringing me closer and closer to You Lord.

And God says…”This refining fire can have both results. The fire can heat the silver so that when the impurities are skimmed off the top, the refiner’s reflection can be  clearly seen. If the silver is not heated hot enough, the impurities cannot be eliminated. If it is heated too hot, the ore will be ruined. The fire must be just hot enough, and long enough so that My reflection can be seen. ….

Inside the trials continue to remember that all things work for the good of those that love Me and are called to My purpose. Remember that nothing can touch you that has not first passed through my hands. Be patient in your trials allowing them to have their perfect result.

Taking the Initiative Against Depression

February 17th, 2011

February 17, 2011
Arise and eat—1 Kings 19:5

The angel in this passage did not give Elijah a vision, or explain the Scriptures to him, or do anything remarkable. He simply told Elijah to do a very ordinary thing, that is, to get up and eat. If we were never depressed, we would not be alive—only material things don’t suffer depression. If human beings were not capable of depression, we would have no capacity for happiness and exaltation. There are things in life that are designed to depress us; for example, things that are associated with death. Whenever you examine yourself, always take into account your capacity for depression.

When the Spirit of God comes to us, He does not give us glorious visions, but He tells us to do the most ordinary things imaginable. Depression tends to turn us away from the everyday things of God’s creation. But whenever God steps in, His inspiration is to do the most natural, simple things-things we would never have imagined God was in, but as we do them we find Him there. The inspiration that comes to us in this way is an initiative against depression. But we must take the first step and do it in the inspiration of God. If, however, we do something simply to overcome our depression, we will only deepen it. But when the Spirit of God leads us instinctively to do something, the moment we do it the depression is gone. As soon as we arise and obey, we enter a higher plane of life.

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February 17, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I have never known a world without my brother in it. It all looks the same but there is a space in my heart that is his space. He was not around a great deal but there was a space in my heart nonetheless, and he filled that space whether he was close by or gallivanting around the desert.  I wonder what to do with that space?

And God says…”Fill his space with Me. Fill every space in your heart with Me. Fill the space for your father, brother and friends with Me. Not just the spaces held by memories- fill the space in your heart and mind for all those you love. Fill the spaces in your heart with Me.  When you give them love or water and warmth, you are giving it to Me. When you extend the love, hope and courage that I give you, you honor Me, and the space that you thought was empty is filled to overflowing.”

Journal  2 17 11 DJR

Good Morning Lord,  The bottom line today seems to be that when we obey … things get better … even if the circumstances dont change.   The missing link sometimes is not hearing the voice to obey.    And then we are back to connection.   And all that can prevent it, like busyness, self focus, etc and all that can promote it, like devotion, worship, meditation and an expectation to hear and obey.     What have I most been missing?  I dont really do that much flat out disobedience, but I dont feel like I’ve been hearing as well as we would like.    I’m sure I just run right by opportunities for hearing and obeying every day…..

You have that right and the first step is seeing and acknowledging it … so congratulations…   Start today.   Go expecting to hear.   And listen.   And I will speak.

OK,  I choose to trust you.   I love you.

The Inspiration of Spiritual Initiative

February 16th, 2011

Arise from the dead . . .—Ephesians 5:14

Not all initiative, the willingness to take the first step, is inspired by God. Someone may say to you, “Get up and get going! Take your reluctance by the throat and throw it overboard—just do what needs to be done!” That is what we mean by ordinary human initiative. But when the Spirit of God comes to us and says, in effect, “Get up and get going,” suddenly we find that the initiative is inspired.
We all have many dreams and aspirations when we are young, but sooner or later we realize we have no power to accomplish them. We cannot do the things we long to do, so our tendency is to think of our dreams and aspirations as dead. But God comes and says to us, “Arise from the dead . . . .” When God sends His inspiration, it comes to us with such miraculous power that we are able to “arise from the dead” and do the impossible. The remarkable thing about spiritual initiative is that the life and power comes after we “get up and get going.” God does not give us overcoming life—He gives us life as we overcome. When the inspiration of God comes, and He says, “Arise from the dead . . . ,” we have to get ourselves up; God will not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand” (Matthew 12:13). As soon as the man did so, his hand was healed. But he had to take the initiative. If we will take the initiative to overcome, we will find that we have the inspiration of God, because He immediately gives us the power of life.

Journal 2 16 11 DJR

Good morning, Lord.   I didn’t know Mike personally, but we’ve been praying for him.   He passed from this life to the next yesterday.   From what JD had shared,  I knew a little of his life.    Over the last weeks I learned of a man who served.  Red, White & Blue.   A decorated soldier with medals of bronze and silver and purple … medals of valor.   But exposure to Agent Orange set up a sequence … that ended yesterday.  Not really ended.   Just began the next adventure.    So here is for Mike, In Living Color.

The Colors Of Mike
Sadness today.
Mike went away.
He was my brother’s brother,
So I knew him that way.
A colorful life,
Red, White & Blue,
Bronze, Silver, Purple
& That damn Orange
Seemed to win at the end.
Except Mike had a Savior
Who turns death into life
So we soldier on
With shades of grey,
But now with his Captain,

It’s the whole

Rainbow for Mike

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February 16, 2011

Journal for Today-JDV

It somehow does not seem right that I feel a sense of relief at my brother’s passing, but that is the prevailing sense. Whether the relief comes from knowing he is no longer suffering, or it stems from the end to a family dynamic and controversy surrounding the hospice choices and location…..I am not certain. I just know that I feel loss and relief and while I will miss my brother for a time You reassured me Lord many times.

And God says….”Mike is with Me now I hold him in my arms even as we speak. There is much rejoicing here with his dad, uncles, aunts, grandfather, grandmothers and comrades. He is amazed at the weightlessness of this life, and you know he really did love to fly. He feels the prayers of his family and friends as do his friends and family there on earth. I have presented Him to the Father and he has been found perfect in Me. Rejoice.”

“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”

February 15th, 2011
February 15, 2011
 
None of us lives to himself . . . —Romans 14:7
 

Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible spiritually to God for other people? For instance, if I allow any turning away from God in my private life, everyone around me suffers. We “sit together in the heavenly places . . .” (Ephesians 2:6). “If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it . . .” (1 Corinthians 12:26). If you allow physical selfishness, mental carelessness, moral insensitivity, or spiritual weakness, everyone in contact with you will suffer. But you ask, “Who is sufficient to be able to live up to such a lofty standard?” “Our sufficiency is from God . . .” and God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).

“You shall be witnesses to Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). How many of us are willing to spend every bit of our nervous, mental, moral, and spiritual energy for Jesus Christ? That is what God means when He uses the word witness. But it takes time, so be patient with yourself. Why has God left us on the earth? Is it simply to be saved and sanctified? No, it is to be at work in service to Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone— to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life of service to God is the way I say “thank you” to Him for His inexpressibly wonderful salvation. Remember, it is quite possible for God to set any of us aside if we refuse to be of service to Him— “. . . lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

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February 15, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I woke up again at 4:00 AM this morning, wondering where there was a beginning and ending to all the thoughts fighting for space in my mind.  My mind was racing on about my brother and all the family dynamics surrounding his last days. My mind raced over to mom and her wellbeing and then to my business with so many threads and wondering which one do I pull? I could only feel the needs and I could not see my place in them. Where do I start? What do I do? It feels like so many starts with so few endings.  It feels like one foot is nailed to the floor and someone yelled …RUN!! And I run in circles.

And God says…”I will open doors and I will close doors and in between these two things happening, you will wait. You only feel as if you are running in circles because you feel as if you must do something. You must wait. You must be obedient and wait on Me. I will take the action; I will show you positively which way you are to go. Pray and rest in Me…Remember that ALL things work for the good of those that love the Lord and are called according to My purpose.   Those that wait upon the Lord will rise up with wings like eagles…run and not be weary. I know the future I have for you, a future that is good. Trust in Me and do not rely on your own understanding. Rest and be at peace knowing I will do more than you could ever imagine. 

Journal 2 15 2011 DJR
Good morning, Lord. I see that you are taking my friend and I into new territory.(s) Very different journeys, but character building, each of the customized paths. He in the pressure cooker around a dying brother and continuing tent making uncertainty … me in finally deciding to dig in to old pains and losses. The devo’s of the recent past have certainly spoken to us and encouraged us to not only hang in there, but to even press in … to see what you have for us.

It is good. Keep coming.

I dont know what I believe about this concept of digging up the past and processing hurts and grieving losses etc. Part of me says, “suck it up, take it to the cross, the past is done, Jesus is all I need, He heals everything and digging stuff up is a waste of time….

Yes, and how has that worked out for you?

Not too well. Not on anything changing, external circumstances. And internally, between my ears, I can see some improvement, but not enough, and especially under pressure, I can still flare in pretty carnal and immature ways. That’s part of the reason I’m ready to do some deep diving. I’ve put this whole journey up to You and am doing my best to hold it in an open palm. Initially I’ve asked you for some guides for the journey. I think I’ve heard and am moving forward. Help me keep hearing you and catching the indicators.

I am here for you. Remember that my ways are higher than yours and on a whole different level. So expect some things to not make sense from the worldly point of view.

You got that right. I’m praying for 3 guys who have lost adult children. No way I can make sense of that. At least I’m smart enough to know what I dont know, so I try to stay away from Job’s comforting. My own stuff doesn’t make any sense from any perspective that I’ve come up with so far. Is there anything I’m missing?

You’re kidding? How about, My perspective, The View From Eternity, The Balcony View, The fact that a War is going on… And it has casulaties….. stuff like that.

Ouch. Casualties. I dont like the sound of that.

Well we dont talk about that early on in most journeys. But if you look, most of my most cherished men had to carry some pretty heavy crosses. Even real ones at the end. They are all here now. None of them want to go back and take an easier path.

OK. I guess I’ll leave it to you and do my best to just follow.

Good Idea… You’ll find it’s the best way of all… It’s what I did. Remember John 5:19. (I only do what I see the Father doing, etc)

Yes, OK I love you. Let’s go.

The Discipline of Hearing

February 14th, 2011

February 14, 2011
 
Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops —Matthew 10:27
 

Sometimes God puts us through the experience and discipline of darkness to teach us to hear and obey Him. Song birds are taught to sing in the dark, and God puts us into “the shadow of His hand” until we learn to hear Him (Isaiah 49:2). “Whatever I tell you in the dark. . .”— pay attention when God puts you into darkness, and keep your mouth closed while you are there. Are you in the dark right now in your circumstances, or in your life with God? If so, then remain quiet. If you open your mouth in the dark, you will speak while in the wrong mood— darkness is the time to listen. Don’t talk to other people about it; don’t read books to find out the reason for the darkness; just listen and obey. If you talk to other people, you cannot hear what God is saying. When you are in the dark, listen, and God will give you a very precious message for someone else once you are back in the light.

After every time of darkness, we should experience a mixture of delight and humiliation. If there is only delight, I question whether we have really heard God at all. We should experience delight for having heard God speak, but mostly humiliation for having taken so long to hear Him! Then we will exclaim, “How slow I have been to listen and understand what God has been telling me!” And yet God has been saying it for days and even weeks. But once you hear Him, He gives you the gift of humiliation, which brings a softness of heart— a gift that will always cause you to listen to God now.

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February 14, 2011

Journal Entry for Todays-JDV

Lord, just when it seems like we should be able to stop and take a breath; one more emotional riptide overtakes and overpowers us. Just when I thought we could catch our bearings…..another one takes our breath away.  I have been praying for a respite, rescue and time for recovery, but you seem to be very patient right now.

And God says…”Sometimes it is not a single powerful event or trial that makes you stronger; it is the series of seemingly overwhelming and unfair events that help transform you. On and on and on you feel the emotional and spiritual riptides and sense you are almost ready to drown. And then you realize that I am always with you. You know well that I do not always remove the trials. I give you the faith, hope and courage to withstand the trials. And as you emerge from them you have a new sense of awareness of My presence…as you are transformed…a little bit more into the likeness of Christ.”

…..Hebrews 13:5…..Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, 

   God is there, ready to help; 
   I’m fearless no matter what. 
   Who or what can get to me?

Is Your Ability to See God Blinded?

February 10th, 2011

February 10, 2011
 
Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things . . . —Isaiah 40:26
 

The people of God in Isaiah’s time had blinded their minds’ ability to see God by looking on the face of idols. But Isaiah made them look up at the heavens; that is, he made them begin to use their power to think and to visualize correctly. If we are children of God, we have a tremendous treasure in nature and will realize that it is holy and sacred. We will see God reaching out to us in every wind that blows, every sunrise and sunset, every cloud in the sky, every flower that blooms, and every leaf that fades, if we will only begin to use our blinded thinking to visualize it.

The real test of spiritual focus is being able to bring your mind and thoughts under control. Is your mind focused on the face of an idol? Is the idol yourself? Is it your work? Is it your idea of what a servant should be, or maybe your experience of salvation and sanctification? If so, then your ability to see God is blinded. You will be powerless when faced with difficulties and will be forced to endure in darkness. If your power to see has been blinded, don’t look back on your own experiences, but look to God. It is God you need. Go beyond yourself and away from the faces of your idols and away from everything else that has been blinding your thinking. Wake up and accept the ridicule that Isaiah gave to his people, and deliberately turn your thoughts and your eyes to God.

One of the reasons for our sense of futility in prayer is that we have lost our power to visualize. We can no longer even imagine putting ourselves deliberately before God. It is actually more important to be broken bread and poured-out wine in the area of intercession than in our personal contact with others. The power of visualization is what God gives a saint so that he can go beyond himself and be firmly placed into relationships he never before experienced.

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February 10, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord this devotional reminds me that You should be the focus of all that I look for in all my trials, blessings …daily routine, relationships with others…everything. I am reminded that if Romans 8:28 is true you have touched everything that I experience and that you have arranged it for my good.

And God says…”My ways are not your ways and you cannot know My ways. This is why you must have faith (and even that I will give you). Trust Me to bring all circumstances together for your good.  Imagine how the disciples and Mary felt during the crucifixion.  They could not have imagined the victory and blessings that would result of this event and the resurrection to follow. It was beyond their comprehension.  It is the same with many, many things that occur in your life every day.  Look to Me and not the circumstances or your contemporary idols such as your finances, career, or life on earth. I am the way the truth and the light…..look to me.”