Our soul’s personal history with God is often an account of the death of our heroes. Over and over again God has to remove our friends to put Himself in their place, and that is when we falter, fail, and become discouraged. Let me think about this personally— when the person died who represented for me all that God was, did I give up on everything in life? Did I become ill or disheartened? Or did I do as Isaiah did and see the Lord?

My vision of God is dependent upon the condition of my character. My character determines whether or not truth can even be revealed to me. Before I can say, “I saw the Lord,” there must be something in my character that conforms to the likeness of God. Until I am born again and really begin to see the kingdom of God, I only see from the perspective of my own biases. What I need is God’s surgical procedure— His use of external circumstances to bring about internal purification.

Your priorities must be God first, God second, and God third, until your life is continually face to face with God and no one else is taken into account whatsoever. Your prayer will then be, “In all the world there is no one but You, dear God; there is no one but You.”

Keep paying the price. Let God see that you are willing to live up to the vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvnVjLX_hRE

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

July 13, 2010

Sometimes I wonder where you are or if you are even there in my life. I wonder if you hear my prayers and cries for some indication that you are there inside of me and my circumstance. I know from your word that you are there….it is just that sometimes I don’t see the changes occurring in my circumstances and life. And because I cannot see the impact you are having in my circumstances I sometimes get discouraged.

And God says…”You cannot define God working with your senses; My ways are not your ways…a thousand years is like a single day to Me. What is or is not happening in your life and surroundings is not for your review or even your experience…yours is to trust and obey. I am at work in your life, I have told you this. I am and will do immeasurably more in your life than you could ever imagine, however, you cannot pull your faith up out of the ground like a plant to use your senses to determine if and where I am working in your life.

Trust Me for the faith to wait and for the hope you need in day to day living. Simply stay connected and know I am with you. There is no need for you to know what and how I am working. I will make you aware when you need to react or experience the work I have done on your behalf. In the meantime, stay connected and reach out and let Christ live through you to others…..Trust and obey.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, trust Me and listen for the Spirit inside of you and you will never be discouraged. You cannot be discouraged when you are looking into the very eyes of love.