In that day you will ask in My name . . . —John 16:26

“Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). Then why should we ask? The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him. If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God. We receive an answer every time we pray, but it does not always come in the way we expect, and our spiritual irritation shows our refusal to identify ourselves truly with our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove that God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God’s grace.

“. . . I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you . . .” (John 16:26-27). Have you reached such a level of intimacy with God that the only thing that can account for your prayer life is that it has become one with the prayer life of Jesus Christ? Has our Lord exchanged your life with His vital life? If so, then “in that day” you will be so closely identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.

When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to place the blame on someone else. That is always a trap of Satan. When you seem to have no answer, there is always a reason— God uses these times to give you deep personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you.

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August 3, 2011-12

Father God, where does the spiritual fire go, one day to the next? Yesterday I was so certain, so focused and then this morning I seemed to have mislaid that surety of purpose. Yesterday I knew the direction you laid out for me, and yet I am not quite so certain this morning. What happened?

And God says…”I give you manna for each day. Do not try to carry over yesterday’s certainty for today. Meet me at the cross daily, then arise knowing that I will give you the manna you need each morning, afternoon and evening. Do not worry about tomorrow or this morning, or even the next hour. Live in the moment knowing I am with you. The purpose I gave you yesterday is still there, you simply need to meet Me at the cross each morning knowing I will reinforce your sense of purpose and certainty. I will remind you of your “promised land’ and give you the strength, purpose and provision to energize your new day. I am your way , your truth and your life. Find me at the cross every morning”

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33

The typical view of the Christian life is that it means being delivered from all adversity. But it actually means being delivered in adversity, which is something very different. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling . . .” (Psalm 91:1,10)— the place where you are at one with God.

If you are a child of God, you will certainly encounter adversities, but Jesus says you should not be surprised when they come. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” He is saying, “There is nothing for you to fear.” The same people who refused to talk about their adversities before they were saved often complain and worry after being born again because they have the wrong idea of what it means to live the life of a saint.

God does not give us overcoming life— He gives us life as we overcome. The strain of life is what builds our strength. If there is no strain, there will be no strength. Are you asking God to give you life, liberty, and joy? He cannot, unless you are willing to accept the strain. And once you face the strain, you will immediately get the strength. Overcome your own timidity and take the first step. Then God will give you nourishment— “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Revelation 2:7). If you completely give of yourself physically, you become exhausted. But when you give of yourself spiritually, you get more strength. God never gives us strength for tomorrow, or for the next hour, but only for the strain of the moment. Our temptation is to face adversities from the standpoint of our own common sense. But a saint can “be of good cheer” even when seemingly defeated by adversities, because victory is absurdly impossible to everyone, except God.

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August 2, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV (from last year)

Lord, I believe this is a testimony that comes to us later in our spiritual journey; that your children will have difficulties and tough times. Early in our Christian lives we believe, think and hope that you will rescue us from the tough stuff. But later we learn that we get to go through difficult times. This is not the message we want to hear; that You save us in the storms, not from the storms. Given a choice, I would rather not experience the storms Lord; however, I can look back and see their value. I can feel roots that reach down deep and strong; attached to your very solid foundation. They did not get there overnight, and I now know they will only grow strong and deep when watered by your blood and my tears.

And God says…”I love you very much, and am doing more than you could ever imagine to facilitate your transformation. I love you enough to allow the sandpaper and whetstones of life to touch you liberally. Do not try and get out of your trials too early; let them have their perfect result. Praise Me in the storms and look for rainbows that will surely arrive at precisely the right times.”

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Thanks for the insight today that the dwelling place mentioned in Ps 91 is not my house … but the place where I live with you. I’ve begun to call it the balcony. … where I can learn to see as you see and hear as you hear. In that dwelling place, no trouble can come near me. Thanks for that. Now I need help in living in that dwelling place more and more.

Realizing it is the first requirement. I will help you … because it’s what I want too.

When Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples . . . He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities —Matthew 11:1

He comes where He commands us to leave. If you stayed home when God told you to go because you were so concerned about your own people there, then you actually robbed them of the teaching of Jesus Christ Himself. When you obeyed and left all the consequences to God, the Lord went into your city to teach, but as long as you were disobedient, you blocked His way. Watch where you begin to debate with Him and put what you call your duty into competition with His commands. If you say, “I know that He told me to go, but my duty is here,” it simply means that you do not believe that Jesus means what He says.

He teaches where He instructs us not to teach. “Master . . . let us make three tabernacles . . .” (Luke 9:33).

Are we playing the part of an amateur providence, trying to play God’s role in the lives of others? Are we so noisy in our instruction of other people that God cannot get near them? We must learn to keep our mouths shut and our spirits alert. God wants to instruct us regarding His Son, and He wants to turn our times of prayer into mounts of transfiguration. When we become certain that God is going to work in a particular way, He will never work in that way again.

He works where He sends us to wait. “. . . tarry . . . until . . .” (Luke 24:49). “Wait on the Lord” and He will work (Psalm 37:34). But don’t wait sulking spiritually and feeling sorry for yourself, just because you can’t see one inch in front of you! Are we detached enough from our own spiritual fits of emotion to “wait patiently for Him”? (Psalm 37:7). Waiting is not sitting with folded hands doing nothing, but it is learning to do what we are told.

These are some of the facets of His ways that we rarely recognize.

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Reprise Journal Entry from 2011

August 1, 2011

Lord, I believe in your faithfulness, truth and your word, even when I do not see. And while I understand that patience builds endurance and faith grows while I wait, I ask You to reassure me one more morning of your love and plan for this day and every day.

And God says…”Remember, that all things work for the good of those that love the Lord, and are called according to My purpose. If I care for every sparrow, how much more I care for you and yours. I know the number of hairs on your head and construct your dreams and visions. Seek Me first this morning, and watch  everything else fall into place. When you seek Me first, you find your daily
bread……..and your work, hope,  faith, dreams and vision for this day.”

Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing —James 1:4

Many of us appear to be all right in general, but there are still some areas in which we are careless and lazy; it is not a matter of sin, but the remnants of our carnal life that tend to make us careless. Carelessness is an insult to the Holy Spirit. We should have no carelessness about us either in the way we worship God, or even in the way we eat and drink.

Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the outward expression of that relationship must also be right. Ultimately, God will allow nothing to escape; every detail of our lives is under His scrutiny. God will bring us back in countless ways to the same point over and over again. And He never tires of bringing us back to that one point until we learn the lesson, because His purpose is to produce the finished product. It may be a problem arising from our impulsive nature, but again and again, with the most persistent patience, God has brought us back to that one particular point. Or the problem may be our idle and wandering thinking, or our independent nature and self-interest. Through this process, God is trying to impress upon us the one thing that is not entirely right in our lives.

We have been having a wonderful time in our studies over the revealed truth of God’s redemption, and our hearts are perfect toward Him. And His wonderful work in us makes us know that overall we are right with Him. “Let patience have its perfect work . . . .” The Holy Spirit speaking through James said, “Now let your patience become a finished product.” Beware of becoming careless over the small details of life and saying, “Oh, that will have to do for now.” Whatever it may be, God will point it out with persistence until we become entirely His.

Jesus did not commit Himself to them . . . , for He knew what was in man —John 2:24-25

Refusing to be disillusioned is the cause of much of the suffering of human life. And this is how that suffering happens— if we love someone, but do not love God, we demand total perfection and righteousness from that person, and when we do not get it we become cruel and vindictive; yet we are demanding of a human being something which he or she cannot possibly give. There is only one Being who can completely satisfy to the absolute depth of the hurting human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord is so obviously uncompromising with regard to every human relationship because He knows that every relationship that is not based on faithfulness to Himself will end in disaster. Our Lord trusted no one, and never placed His faith in people, yet He was never suspicious or bitter. Our Lord’s confidence in God, and in what God’s grace could do for anyone, was so perfect that He never despaired, never giving up hope for any person. If our trust is placed in human beings, we will end up despairing of everyone.

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July 30, 2012

Journal Entry-JDV

When I become aware of my capacity for following my selfish motives and desires, and my self-deception, I come face to face with my own failings….and most of the time, become more acceptable of others. Once I see my own failings, it becomes abundantly clear that I cannot point out the speck in that other person’s eye.  Perhaps the “saving grace” of being aware of my shortcomings is that I am less and less likely to point out the failings of others.

And God says…”Almost right. When you begin to understand that you can only be made right by the sacrifice of Jesus, you begin to view others through this same lens. When you quit “trying” to be a “good Christian” and begin to understand that you can only become “good” through the saving work of Christ Jesus, you begin to view others in this same light. And you begin to understand that the saving work of Jesus, is not an event, it is the daily activity of identifying with the Son of God in all you say and do. You will not be nor act “perfect”. You will become transformed over time….and occasionally when you can only identify with your own selfish thoughts  and actions, you will grow to the point where you can and will extend the love and grace of Jesus for both yourself and others.”

Journal DJR
Good Morning Lord,
Never trusting anyone but always trusting You and hoping the best for all situations is kind of hard to keep balanced.

Yes, and you will have the tendency to fall on one side or the other. Acceptance of people and situations without complaint. Just accepting things as they are … it is what it is … that is the place from which you can see as I see, Hear as I hear and respond as I would respond … rather than react from your preconceived judgements … which are all doomed to be inaccurate and will therefore lead to bad reactions. Try Acceptance without complaint. It’s what I did. It will take practice.

OK, I’ll give it a go. But I need your help.

That’s what I’m here for.

Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart . . . . For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man . . . —Matthew 15:18-20

Initially we trust in our ignorance, calling it innocence, and next we trust our innocence, calling it purity. Then when we hear these strong statements from our Lord, we shrink back, saying, “But I never felt any of those awful things in my heart.” We resent what He reveals. Either Jesus Christ is the supreme authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to. Am I prepared to trust the penetration of His Word into my heart, or would I prefer to trust my own “innocent ignorance”? If I will take an honest look at myself, becoming fully aware of my so-called innocence and putting it to the test, I am very likely to have a rude awakening that what Jesus Christ said is true, and I will be appalled at the possibilities of the evil and the wrong within me. But as long as I remain under the false security of my own “innocence,” I am living in a fool’s paradise. If I have never been an openly rude and abusive person, the only reason is my own cowardice coupled with the sense of protection I receive from living a civilized life. But when I am open and completely exposed before God, I find that Jesus Christ is right in His diagnosis of me.

The only thing that truly provides protection is the redemption of Jesus Christ. If I will simply hand myself over to Him, I will never have to experience the terrible possibilities that lie within my heart. Purity is something far too deep for me to arrive at naturally. But when the Holy Spirit comes into me, He brings into the center of my personal life the very Spirit that was exhibited in the life of Jesus Christ, namely, the Holy Spirit, which is absolute unblemished purity.

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July 23, 2012

Journal for Today-JDV

Lord, I am certainly glad to discover that you are in charge of purity and innocence for my life. Sometimes I feel so far from pure, I wonder if I can even be considered “OK’. I have a tendency to seek my own way in everything I do; seeking the most personal gain (or the least amount of pain) in relationships and projects…everything I do. I wonder if I can ever be a person that seeks the best for the other people in my personal and business relationships and projects.

And God says…”Your nature is not to look out for the other person first; except when you see them as an extension of yourself. Most of all your waking moments are spent trying to figure out how to find peace and joy in a life naturally focused on avoiding pain and maximizing your pleasure. It is a stress filled existence living in this way, even when you find the discipline and self-control to set “healthy” patterns for living. You will always have the heart felt void you try to fill with less pain and more pleasure; until you surrender your life and efforts to me.

Acknowledge Me in all your ways and do not rely on your own ways of doing things and I will make your paths straight. Seek first the kingdom of God, which is Jesus, and all you need will be provided. Delight yourself in Me….and I will give you the desires of your heart.

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Journal DJR
Good Morning, Lord,
These are some pretty hard words. But they ring true. Life seems to be set up as a game that is impossible to win … using all the best of what we bring. It’s a great thing that you have brought your redemption and we can win the game … but only by surrendering and letting you empower us. Easier to understand the concept than actually get it done…

Yes, especially for those of you who pride yourselves on being self starters, self motivated and self empowered. You have to run a little while, or a long while before you find that you are powerless … and then my Spirit can come and empower you.

Blessed are . . . —Matthew 5:3-11

The teachings of Jesus are all out of proportion when compared to our natural way of looking at things, and they come to us initially with astonishing discomfort. We gradually have to conform our walk and conversation to the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations— it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.

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July 25, 2012

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord if I am, as the song says, to “live like that”; it seems to me that it will take a miracle. I know it requires take the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. Love my enemies, give, do not get angry with those that persecute me, be pure of heart, seek righteousness… meekness and know that heavenly rewards for insults and slander here on earth will be substantial. These are difficult, if not impossible, precepts for me to live day in and day out Lord.   And just when I think I have conquered one failing, another pops up and reminds me of how weak I really am. If I am to really, “live like that” Lord, You will need to live through me.

And God says…”That is the plan. I sent Jesus to live through you. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life…and light. His sacrifice and the work of the Holy Spirit in and through your life can make the beatitudes a reality, over time. You are so impatient, you want to experience the transformation in a year or two or three or even ten or  twenty or even fifty years. These are miniscule specks of time over the course of eternity. Trust in the Lord and let me be responsible for your transformed life. Let me own the timetables and transformation. I began the good work in you; don’t you know that I will complete it? Remember too that a work that began with love, and grace and mercy does need any of your help. You are not required to “measure up” you are simply called to surrender. Live in the freedom of that life today and every day. All you need do is surrender.”

. . . unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven —Matthew 5:20

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The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being. Jesus Christ came to place within anyone who would let Him a new heredity that would have a righteousness exceeding that of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is saying, “If you are My disciple, you must be right not only in your actions, but also in your motives, your aspirations, and in the deep recesses of the thoughts of your mind.” Your motives must be so pure that God Almighty can see nothing to rebuke. Who can stand in the eternal light of God and have nothing for Him to rebuke? Only the Son of God, and Jesus Christ claims that through His redemption He can place within anyone His own nature and make that person as pure and as simple as a child. The purity that God demands is impossible unless I can be remade within, and that is exactly what Jesus has undertaken to do through His redemption.

No one can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations— He gives us His teachings which are truths that can only be interpreted by His nature which He places within us. The great wonder of Jesus Christ’s salvation is that He changes our heredity. He does not change human nature— He changes its source, and thereby its motives as well.

Journal DJR
Good Morning, Lord
It is so easy to go about our day and forget that we are redeemed and have a new nature and a new way to think. It seems that this new nature and new way to think is an “option” that we have…we can exercise it … or not. And the busy-ness of our lives pushes us toward missing out on the fullness of our redeemed lives. Busy-ness and multitasking are so common. Maybe some people have figured out how to multitask and stay super busy and still consciously walk out their redeemed life … but it doesn’t work for me. I need your help.

Modern life does present different challenges than those in biblical times. But they are not more than you can handle. With my Spirit, you are equipped for whatever comes your way.

I dont want to be unappreciative, but I’ve had trouble working out my redemption and new nature in the middle of busyness and multitasking???

There is not a single formula for everyone. Your solution to the busyness of life will be different from others. That’s why you dont need to go looking in self help books or religious how to books. Even if they contain good plans that work, they are specifically for those authors. You are different. You are special and I have a special plan for you.

Well, that makes me feel good, like getting a present. But when can I unwrap it and start using it (more)? Maybe technology can be my friend on this. I’m going to set the alarm timer on my phone for 2 hours and at least every two hours I’ll unplug from what I’m doing and give a full effort to connect with you. … And I’ll wait for more instructions on how to live out this redeemed life, this precious gift that we find difficult to fully grasp.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us . . . sanctification . . . —1 Corinthians 1:30

The Life Side. The mystery of sanctification is that the perfect qualities of Jesus Christ are imparted as a gift to me, not gradually, but instantly once I enter by faith into the realization that He “became for [me] . . . sanctification . . . .” Sanctification means nothing less than the holiness of Jesus becoming mine and being exhibited in my life.

The most wonderful secret of living a holy life does not lie in imitating Jesus, but in letting the perfect qualities of Jesus exhibit themselves in my human flesh. Sanctification is “Christ in you . . .” (Colossians 1:27). It is His wonderful life that is imparted to me in sanctification— imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His Word?

Sanctification means the impartation of the holy qualities of Jesus Christ to me. It is the gift of His patience, love, holiness, faith, purity, and godliness that is exhibited in and through every sanctified soul. Sanctification is not drawing from Jesus the power to be holy— it is drawing from Jesus the very holiness that was exhibited in Him, and that He now exhibits in me. Sanctification is an impartation, not an imitation. Imitation is something altogether different. The perfection of everything is in Jesus Christ, and the mystery of sanctification is that all the perfect qualities of Jesus are at my disposal. Consequently, I slowly but surely begin to live a life of inexpressible order, soundness, and holiness— “. . . kept by the power of God . . .” (1 Peter 1:5).

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Reprise Journal Entry-July 21, 2011

Thank you Lord for pointing out the futility of my life and efforts without You. Thank you for reminding me that it is You that began and completes the good work in me. My work is to surrender. Thank you for showing me the very narrow road and then showing me I do not have the ability to walk that narrow road.

And God says…”This is a lesson to be learned until it is ingrained into all believers; that the life of the believer can only be realized in personal defeat. My standards are absolute so that you can see the disparity and futility of trying to live the Christian life. It is not for you to “do your very best” I cannot accept your “very best”. I can only accept the purity and absolute righteousness of Jesus. This comes when you surrender and allow Him to live through you.” As Paul wrote to the Corinthians….2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Journal DJR
Good Morning, Lord,
Recently I’ve received compliments for the “Wisdom” that I was able to share in several situations. … But at the same time, I see “Lack of Wisdom” operating in my own personal life. Something beyond garden variety Hypocrisy seems to be going on here.

Yes, the fact that you see it and acknowledge it takes it out of the first level of hypocrisy … where Pharisees say, “do as I say, not as I do” and see no problem with it. So you’ve identified the situation, Now what?

That’s what I was going to ask you. I relate with Paul, who called himself Chief Sinner, and said, “I do what I dont want to do and dont do what I want to do….

When you arrive at those conclusions, You are ready to receive impartation of my holiness. Only then.

So why can I have wisdom for others better than for myself? Is it the Objective view that I see their stuff from a distance (objective) and on my own stuff, I’m too close to the forest to see the trees? (subjective, & easily tripped into hypocrisy)

Yes, that is another part of this issue, When you are in the battle and in the tension, you react against the stressors. When you are at a distance you can respond with wisdom after observing objectively and choosing based on the best outcomes.

So seeing and recommending wisdom for others because I see it objectively can be considered a prototype for how I can see my own stuff. Objectively will work out better. Like we have termed it, from the “Balcony View”

Yes, remember how I did it in John 5:19 … only what I saw the Father doing. I was on the balcony with him all the time. I’m saving a place for you…Come up here on my balcony, and life will really get to be exciting.

OK, I’ll do my best. But even saying that, I know I’ve failed a lot, and will probably fail more…. I need your help.

That’s what I’m here for. Come on up. I have things to show you.

Those who wait on the Lord . . . shall walk and not faint —Isaiah 40:31

Having the reality of God’s presence is not dependent on our being in a particular circumstance or place, but is only dependent on our determination to keep the Lord before us continually. Our problems arise when we refuse to place our trust in the reality of His presence. The experience the psalmist speaks of— “We will not fear, even though . . .” (Psalm 46:2)— will be ours once we are grounded on the truth of the reality of God’s presence, not just a simple awareness of it, but an understanding of the reality of it. Then we will exclaim, “He has been here all the time!” At critical moments in our lives it is necessary to ask God for guidance, but it should be unnecessary to be constantly saying, “Oh, Lord, direct me in this, and in that.” Of course He will, and in fact, He is doing it already! If our everyday decisions are not according to His will, He will press through them, bringing restraint to our spirit. Then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.

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Reprise Journal Entry-July 20, 2011-JDV

Waiting is not something I do well Lord. I cannot or perhaps simply do not grasp the sense of the everlasting in my day to day living. For some reason it seems like I am in a race to accomplish, learn, achieve or obtain. Quite often my sense of waiting seems bound up in a “hurry up” kind of living that keeps me from enjoying this day, hour or minute. Lord, please help me grasp your everlasting presence this day and help me enjoy your presence and promises more completely every hour and minute.

And God says…”You can begin to grow and appreciate the everlasting as you praise and worship Me day by day, hour by hour and minute by minute. Pray without ceasing,(that is simply..stay conscious of Me all the day) stay connected, and experience my love and peace beyond understanding. When you pray without ceasing and are connected, waiting becomes a pleasurable experience as you begin to know and appreciate the certainty of My promises and your place in them”.