Archive for January, 2015

How Could Someone Be So Ignorant!

January 29th, 2015

Who are You, Lord? —Acts 26:15
“The Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand…” (Isaiah 8:11). There is no escape when our Lord speaks. He always comes using His authority and taking hold of our understanding. Has the voice of God come to you directly? If it has, you cannot mistake the intimate insistence with which it has spoken to you. God speaks in the language you know best— not through your ears, but through your circumstances.

God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions. We say, “I know that this is what I should do” — and suddenly the voice of God speaks in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance. We show our ignorance of Him in the very way we decide to serve Him. We serve Jesus in a spirit that is not His, and hurt Him by our defense of Him. We push His claims in the spirit of the devil; our words sound all right, but the spirit is that of an enemy. “He…rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of’ ” (Luke 9:55). The spirit of our Lord in His followers is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Have I been persecuting Jesus by an eager determination to serve Him in my own way? If I feel I have done my duty, yet have hurt Him in the process, I can be sure that this was not my duty. My way will not be to foster a meek and quiet spirit, only the spirit of self-satisfaction. We presume that whatever is unpleasant is our duty! Is that anything like the spirit of our Lord— “I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8).

_________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons … or doing God’s thing with man’s power, That is the result of not being connected and hearing your voice. Two ways that I wind up doing a good thing for the wrong reasons revolve around the operative words, “should” and “ought.” Those words (for me at least) are shrouded in guilt. The guilt drains the joy out of the good thing that I go ahead and do so I’m left with an empty feeling. I wonder if it erases the spiritual blessing that only you would see also.

Whatever is Not of Faith is Sin (Rom 14:23)

Paul could have amplified that and said that the faith needs to be in me and what I make clear to you. You can have faith in your country or your leaders, even religious leaders and still miss the mark. Like the Pharisees.

It seems so simple. Just get connected, hear your voice and your heart and live out of that. How did I miss it for all those years? But also so easy to get disconnected, listen to my own thoughts or pick up some shoulds and oughts, and find myself sick and tired and missing the delight.

“I delight to do Your will, O my God…” (Psalm 40:8).

 

Thanks for promising to never leave me or forsake me. You’ve never let me run amuck for too long. And I’m always welcome back… like the prodigal son. Lord help me to get and stay connected faster and stay disconnected less and less.

If there’s a guilt feeling attached to it, or driving it, skip it, no matter how good or godly the issue seems to be. That’s not my way of relating with my kids.

How Could Someone So Persecute Jesus!

January 28th, 2015

Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? —Acts 26:14


Are you determined to have your own way in living for God? We will never be free from this trap until we are brought into the experience of the baptism of “the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11). Stubbornness and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set on our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our own rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Him. Whenever we rely on self-respect, we systematically disturb and grieve His Spirit. And when we finally understand that it is Jesus we have been persecuting all this time, it is the most crushing revelation ever.Is the Word of God tremendously penetrating and sharp in me as I hand it on to you, or does my life betray the things I profess to teach? I may teach sanctification and yet exhibit the spirit of Satan, the very spirit that persecutes Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus is conscious of only one thing— a perfect oneness with the Father. And He tells us, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). All I do should be based on a perfect oneness with Him, not on a self-willed determination to be godly. This will mean that others may use me, go around me, or completely ignore me, but if I will submit to it for His sake, I will prevent Jesus Christ from being persecuted.______________________________________________________

January 28 2015

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, I find this devotional a bit confusing. Once again Chambers uses guilt as leverage to make us look inside ourselves. I can only speak for myself, but if I look closely enough I can find cracks in my Christian armor, I suspect everyone can. And while I want to be connected with You and live out the sanctification of being connected, I  want to do so out of the love that comes from your unlimited grace and mercy, not out of some sense of guilt of what I might be doing to Jesus. Am I wrong? Should I be more responsive to the guilt that Chambers, others and oftentimes the church uses to try and keep us on the straight and narrow?

And God says…”As I said a week ago, the church and many believers, pastors and others in authority believe that this kind of leverage; guilt, responsibility and obligation, is appropriate for helping non-believers believe and believers to become sanctified. However, the Gospel is not about getting people to respond out of guilt, it is about making them aware of Jesus so that they  decide to be connected.  And I would not have you trade one set of chains for another.  For unbelievers there are ten words to salvation, with the help of the Holy Spirit:  Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead.  There are eleven words for believers: There is no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus.”

“Many teachers in the church and religious community and “disconnected believers” will try to use guilt, responsibility and obligation to help non-believers believe and believers to come to sanctification. However, anything done apart from love is sin. When you use guilt, responsibly and obligation you are telling Me that you do not believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. Your role is to live out the Gospel, and when your human side gets in the way, my grace and mercy will fill the gaps; both for you and others that might observe the humanity in you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own devices and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God and I will provide everything else you need…. even sanctification.”

 

Look Again and Think

January 27th, 2015

Do not worry about your life… —Matthew 6:25

A warning which needs to be repeated is that “the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches,” and the lust for other things, will choke out the life of God in us (Matthew 13:22). We are never free from the recurring waves of this invasion. If the frontline of attack is not about clothes and food, it may be about money or the lack of money; or friends or lack of friends; or the line may be drawn over difficult circumstances. It is one steady invasion, and these things will come in like a flood, unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the banner against it.

“I say to you, do not worry about your life….” Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing— our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, “That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.” Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

“Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble has begun to threaten you today? What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, “What are your plans for next month— or next summer?” Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the “much more” of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord, It certainly is true, “things” will come in like a flood to fill my schedule, fill my head, and fill my heart unless I (we) do something to prevent it. The first paragraph suggests I allow your Spirit to raise up a banner against it. That sounds good, because me flexing my will power to keep my mind from wandering hasn’t been very successful. So what’s a banner against wandering minds and lustful thoughts? It’s got to be more than just pouring on more will power to not wander and not lust.

Ask and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened to you. For those who truly want to be mine all the time and come to me with their request… I will answer and my Spirit will be there with help in the time of need. There are some techniques that you can use but success in focus and staying worry free cannot be boiled down to a list of tips and techniques. But one that you will find valuable as I did when I walked as you do is to know that your mind cannot be void. All vacancies will fill with something. Especially if you have a habit, any habit, that takes you away, when a vacancy appears in your thinking … that other thing will fill the vacancy and your focus will wander away to that thing, rather than being with me and the best thing I would choose for you.
So one key is to recognize those decision points that happen before you choose a direction and choose to fill the void with what I have for you. If it’s not clear, fill it with something you choose, rather than what you default to. Then keep listening and I will lead you.

Look Again and Consecrate

January 26th, 2015

If God so clothes the grass of the field…, will He not much more clothe you…? —Matthew 6:30


A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field…” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.“Look at the birds of the air…” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.“Consider the lilies of the field…” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?

 

___________________________________________________________________

 

January 26 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, when I read these scriptures in context, I also read the admonition that I cannot serve two masters; I cannot serve God and Mammon. And when you caution me about being anxious, it occurs to me that anxiety is simply being of two minds. I suspect that is exactly what anxiety is: trying to serve two masters; being divided within oneself. You remind us to forget all about what we might need, to forget our worries and cares of the world, and to trust You. You clothe the lilies of the field, you feed the birds in the sky and the scriptures say that I am much more valuable to You. I read and understand the words Lord, however living them out can be difficult, especially when the diagnosis is not good, or the pink slip is in the in basket, or a loved one rejects you or has passed. Actually living it out is not easy Lord.

And God says…”Nothing is easy until it is. You have spent a great portion of your life following the directions of the world. Things like work hard, get ahead, compete, and measure your value and success by your earnings and possessions. Plan, organize, and control life have been mottos for your life for a long time. And now you are trying to give this up and trust God. The change of heart and mind needs time and sometimes difficult circumstances to adjust to these new patterns. You can build new habits and thought patterns so that you are connected and trusting more and more every day. Live in faith. Forget that you unconsciously know how to do your work and live hour by hour. Seek Me in everything you do. Seek first the kingdom of God and I will provide everything else you require. Make this daily, hour by hour, minute by minute trust a conscious way of living and building new habits, and you will be transformed and find you are living the abundant life.”

Transformed by Beholding

January 23rd, 2015

We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image… —2 Corinthians 3:18


The greatest characteristic a Christian can exhibit is this completely unveiled openness before God, which allows that person’s life to become a mirror for others. When the Spirit fills us, we are transformed, and by beholding God we become mirrors. You can always tell when someone has been beholding the glory of the Lord, because your inner spirit senses that he mirrors the Lord’s own character. Beware of anything that would spot or tarnish that mirror in you. It is almost always something good that will stain it— something good, but not what is best.The most important rule for us is to concentrate on keeping our lives open to God. Let everything else including work, clothes, and food be set aside. The busyness of things obscures our concentration on God. We must maintain a position of beholding Him, keeping our lives completely spiritual through and through. Let other things come and go as they will; let other people criticize us as they will; but never allow anything to obscure the life that “is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Never let a hurried lifestyle disturb the relationship of abiding in Him. This is an easy thing to allow, but we must guard against it. The most difficult lesson of the Christian life is learning how to continue “beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord….”_________________________________________________________________

January 23 2015

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, David and I were just talking about this; how do we get and stay connected to You when we are surrounded by the day to day and moment to moment tasks of living?  How do we look to You when we know it is our responsibility to earn a living, love and communicate with our families and friends, do the daily chores, serve in our churches and communities? How to we take the time to focus on You when we are confronted with daily demands for our time and attention?

And God says…”As you read in yesterday’s devotional and have learned from everyday living, it is much easier to engage with Jesus when your own resources and capabilities are insufficient. It is much easier to get and stay connected to Me when you have no answers of your own. And if this is the most effective tool I am to use to shape you, ….(never try to get out of your trials too early, let them have their perfect result…) then this is one of the ways you will be shaped and molded into the likeness of Jesus. However, you can also get in the habit, step by step, hour by hour, minute by minute, of seeking Me first before you engage in the mundane day to day activities of living.  

Starting with a morning devotional and prayer, as you do, and then remind yourself to engage Me at every opportunity after that. As you make your breakfast, go into a meeting, put the clothes in the dryer,  or feed the dogs and cats. If you will make connection a priority, you will find the everyday issues will flow much more smoothly. Acknowledge the Lord in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else you need will be provided. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. And as you are connected to Me, you are being transformed.”

Am I Looking To God?

January 22nd, 2015


Do we expect God to come to us with His blessings and save us? He says, “Look to Me, and be saved….” The greatest difficulty spiritually is to concentrate on God, and His blessings are what make it so difficult. Troubles almost always make us look to God, but His blessings tend to divert our attention elsewhere. The basic lesson of the Sermon on the Mount is to narrow all your interests until your mind, heart, and body are focused on Jesus Christ. “Look to Me….”

Many of us have a mental picture of what a Christian should be, and looking at this image in other Christians’ lives becomes a hindrance to our focusing on God. This is not salvation— it is not simple enough. He says, in effect, “Look to Me and you are saved,” not “You will be saved someday.” We will find what we are looking for if we will concentrate on Him. We get distracted from God and irritable with Him while He continues to say to us, “Look to Me, and be saved….” Our difficulties, our trials, and our worries about tomorrow all vanish when we look to God.

Wake yourself up and look to God. Build your hope on Him. No matter how many things seem to be pressing in on you, be determined to push them aside and look to Him. “Look to Me….” Salvation is yours the moment you look.

_____________________________________________________________

Journal DJR
I get it Lord, that when I look to you, I am saved. The language we’ve been using is “get connected” with you. My question today is how can I maintain that connection more continually. I find myself getting disconnected and wandering off … even though I’ve determined not to allow that to happen. Do you have any suggestions?

I would ask, Do you love me? Do you believe?

And I would insist like Peter, You know I love you (and probably follow up like Peter did) and answer like the man, Lord, I believe, Help my unbelief.

You have answered well. What you are up against is that it is not in man to will to love me or believe me. Your will power to follow regimens that look like love will fail. They always have. Get more simple than that. Just look to me. Dont try to be righteous. Dont try to be holy. That will only get you into the camp of the Pharisees. Only look to me. It’s a different practice than trying to please me or measure up. Just look. See what you see and act out of that.

OK, I’ll try that. I know it sounds wimpy to just say I’ll “try”

It’s OK. I’ll take it.

OK I believe you, Help my unbelief. I love you, Help my un-love.

Recall What God Remembers

January 21st, 2015

Thus says the Lord: “I remember…the kindness of your youth…” —Jeremiah 2:2


Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don’t seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet— “Give Me a drink” (John 4:7). How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?God is saying to His people, “You are not in love with Me now, but I remember a time when you were.” He says, “I remember…the love of your betrothal…” (Jeremiah 2:2). Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it creates in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance…” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

____________________________________________________________

January 21 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, one more time it seems like Chambers is laying out guilt, obligation and leveraging emotional manipulation to try and motivate his students and keep them in line. This is the kind of teaching that chased me from the church years ago.

And God says…”It is true that Chambers and many others in the church and the church itself have used various kinds of emotional leverage to try and move people to repentance and sanctification. However, I have reminded you over the years that I only want relationships of love.  I do not want your guilt, obligation or your sense that you need to measure up.  Leave those feelings of unworthiness at the cross along with the feelings of guilt and obligation. Of course you are unworthy, but when I look at you, I see Jesus. My unlimited grace and mercy provide the path for you to be connected to Me out of love. I would not have you trade one set of chains for another.”  

Are You Fresh for Everything?

January 20th, 2015

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” —John 3:3

Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?

Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God Himself. We don’t know where it begins— it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living— a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, “I have to do this thing or it will never get done.” That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience; it comes from the Holy Spirit. Obedience keeps us “in the light as He is in the light…” (1 John 1:7).

Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed “that they may be one just as We are one” — with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.

Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives us new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.

Journal DJR
Good morning Lord, Today’s devotional sounds like just another facet of what you have been teaching us about staying connected …Jealously guard our connection, Be born again every day, Stay curious and excited about what new thing you have for us next.

So many of my children get their names on the rolls and then dont take advantage of the new life that I offer. There are various reasons, fear, lethargy, traditions, temptations, etc. After you have tasted my eternal life now, you will be ruined for going back to live a worldly life. But even so, you must keep the connection tight and my life flowing or you will get stale.

I’ve been there. Some things I’ve done to re-connect haven’t worked as well as I hoped. ???

You can rely on the promises. Seek and you will find. Knock and it will be opened. Sow and you will reap. Consider the farmer. He sows, and then he keeps on tending his field and reaps in due time. Also the athlete and the soldier … they keep on training and then receive their reward. There is an immediate welcome for a returning prodigal but there is also a continual flow of life to those who tend to their connection. Seek both. keep it flowing continually and when you fall off the wagon and stray, come back quickly. You know you are always welcome in my house.

Vision and Darkness

January 19th, 2015

When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. —Genesis 15:12


Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light— that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure. There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10-11).Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God…”— El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.___________________________________________________________________ 

January 19 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, I get the message of this devotional; when You give me a vision, wait on You to fulfill it, do not take it into my own hands.  And I must certainly avoid the old “OK thanks for the vision, let me take it from here Lord”.  It is a sound message to wait upon the Lord. And when I am certain that it is a vision or direction from You, I believe I can, and do wait on You.  But when I want or need something so badly, and believe You have sent the answer in the form of a solution, reprieve, or blessing…well I have a propensity to grab hold for all I’m worth.

Now looking back over some of the “visions” or answers I thought I received from You, I question my capacity and patience and wonder if the vision or message was from You at all? Or was it my imagination, or my intensified desire? If I was absolutely certain that the vision is or was from you, and if I could stand still and wait even while I saw the boat sinking or freight train barreling down…Lord I would be a lot more patient and become more proficient at the waiting part.

And God says…”You become more proficient as you wait and listen. Your faith grows as you wait and notice that the boat has not sunk and the freight train was a miniature or a figment of your fear and trepidation. When you say, “I believe, help me in my unbelief”, how do you think your belief can be helped? Your  belief grows out of sitting in the boat (or walking on the water) when the boat seems to be sinking, Your belief and faith grows when you wait on Me all the while sensing and feeling the rumbling on the train tracks. Of course you would wait if I sent a miracle so that there was no reason to doubt. But Jesus came as a human child in swaddling clothes. He did not fly out of the sky proclaiming victory. And the answers to your wants, needs, prayers and requests also come in the form of everyday occurrences.”  

“All things work together for the good of those that love the Lord. When you live and interpret all things as coming to you from God, you then can also wait for the nudge, notion or specific direction for when and how to take action, or not. You will become proficient.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not rely on your own understanding and I will make your paths straight. … Those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. If you seek Me, seek my voice, you will learn to hear Me above your own voice and the cacophony of everyday life. Seek and you shall find. Knock and the door will be opened. My sheep know My voice.”

The Voice of the Nature of God

January 16th, 2015

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” —Isaiah 6:8


When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us. The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours.
God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him.
The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul.
The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.
_______________________________________________________________

January 16 2015

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank You for the reminder that we can and do hear Your voice. Thank You for reminding me that when I hear Your voice I am in the same condition as was Isaiah; so connected that I can hear You very clearly.

And God says…”And Isaiah was attuned and connected to Me because of the great crisis he had just endured. Do not try to get out of your crisis and difficulties too quickly, let them have their perfect result; one of which is that you are attuned and very connected to Me. Get and stay connected, daily. Be attuned to My voice. Then live it out in your minute by minute, hour by hour walk. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. Delight yourself in the Lord and I will give you the desires of your heart. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and everything else you require will be provided.”