Thank God for being able to see all that you have not yet been. You have had the vision, but you are not yet to the reality of it by any means. It is when we are in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones, that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the bumps and bruises that must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be, but are we willing to be battered into the shape of the vision to be used by God? The beatings will always come in the most common, everyday ways and through common, everyday people.

There are times when we do know what God’s purpose is; whether we will let the vision be turned into actual character depends on us, not on God. If we prefer to relax on the mountaintop and live in the memory of the vision, then we will be of no real use in the ordinary things of which human life is made. We have to learn to live in reliance upon what we saw in the vision, not simply live in ecstatic delight and conscious reflection upon God. This means living the realities of our lives in the light of the vision until the truth of the vision is actually realized in us. Every bit of our training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making His demands known.

Our little “I am” always sulks and pouts when God says do. Let your little “I am” be shriveled up in God’s wrath and indignation–”I AM WHO I AM . . . has sent me to you” (Exodus 3:14). He must dominate. Isn’t it piercing to realize that God not only knows where we live, but also knows the gutters into which we crawl! He will hunt us down as fast as a flash of lightning. No human being knows human beings as God does.

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October 4, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, there are times when I try to figure out what is going on so I can respond. I try to understand the circumstances and Your purpose (s) so I can then respond. I look around, wonder what is going on, why it is occurring, and then I put Your actions and hoped for future actions into a “context”…and then I say “…OK this makes sense to me now, so I can obey.” But this is not Your will for me is it? It does not have to make sense; I really do not need to understand, I simply need to obey.

And God says…”It is not possible for you to understand all that I do in your life and the lives around you. When you wait to understand the what and why of what I am doing,   you are simply saying; until God conforms to my way of thinking, my sense of logic and purpose I will not respond to Him. Who are you following when you do that? Where is the faith when you wait until it all makes sense to you? I am only pleased when you walk in faith. Do not wait to understand, simply trust and obey. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. You please Me when you walk in faith. Pray for faith not understanding.  Your desire to understand and give My actions context is about you. Faith and obedience without understanding is about Me. Trust in Me, have faith in Me”