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.

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February 16, 2017

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank You for the devotional from Chambers, our lesson from Richard Rohr (guest writer Cynthia Bourgeault today https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/) and the music of Johnny Diaz. These elements together with Your Spirit offered David and me a lesson in resting….in a surrendered state as we listen for your voice. We are also thinking that just because You give us a truth or a word does not mean we run out and share it immediately. It seems You are teaching us to rest, surrender and wait for specific direction even or especially when we feel we or our ideas (or spiritual ideas) are under attack. And that it is not necessarily our roles to effect or be affected by the issues, and or polarized political or emotional storms that swirl around us. It seems that we are to “just breathe” and listen for Your voice that will provide specific direction at the right time, place and opportunity. Are we on the right track God?

And God says…”There is no polarity or dual thinking support for human interaction from the Holy Spirit. There is no “us and them” or a right way or wrong way, there is only love and the blood of Jesus shed for all mankind; that is right, all mankind. When you are in a fiery communications, and or feel you or your ideas are under attack, “just breathe”. When you feel like there is an entire group or a single loved one attacking you or what you believe to be truth, “just breathe” and remember I am love. ……if you have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, you are nothing. If you give all you possess to the poor and give over your body to hardship that you may boast, but do not have love, you gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

“My sheep know My voice. And you can validate hearing My voice, when my words come wrapped in Love”.