Jesus did not say, “Dream about your Father who is in the secret place,” but He said, “. . . pray to your Father who is in the secret place. . . .” Prayer is an effort of the will. After we have entered our secret place and shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray. We cannot seem to get our minds into good working order, and the first thing we have to fight is wandering thoughts. The great battle in private prayer is overcoming this problem of our idle and wandering thinking. We have to learn to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful, deliberate prayer.

We must have a specially selected place for prayer, but once we get there this plague of wandering thoughts begins, as we begin to think to ourselves, “This needs to be done, and I have to do that today.” Jesus says to “shut your door.” Having a secret stillness before God means deliberately shutting the door on our emotions and remembering Him. God is in secret, and He sees us from “the secret place”— He does not see us as other people do, or as we see ourselves. When we truly live in “the secret place,” it becomes impossible for us to doubt God. We become more sure of Him than of anyone or anything else. Enter into “the secret place,” and you will find that God was right in the middle of your everyday circumstances all the time. Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything.

Unless you learn to open the door of your life completely and let God in from your first waking moment of each new day, you will be working on the wrong level throughout the day.But if you will swing the door of your life fully open and “pray to your Father who is in the secret place,” every public thing in your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God.

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August 23, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I woke up and began to pray but then my mind started to wander, as I thought about the day, my responsibilities…my list of things that must get done……or what?

And there I was again, off in my own worries and anxieties. How could I begin with such great intentions and then in the blink of an eye be off in my own directions?

And God says….”  Do not worry yourself about your wandering mind and thoughts when you come to pray….you are free to wander and to be shaped by me. Let Me shape and direct your heart and mind….be free in the Spirit…you are not to control what is mine. Give your heart and mind to Me every morning.

Even the Apostle Paul found himself in this dilemma. Remember, when you seek Me you will find Me, if you knock I will answer. Put away your thoughts of the future and of what you should or should not do and just seek Me. Nothing can separate you from My grace, mercy, love, or my presence. Seek Me and find My rest and peace. I did not set you free so you could bind yourself up. Be free and at peace in my grace.

Remember the magnitude of My sacrifice and know it was and is for you. Relax, and rest knowing that My love, mercy and grace covers you regardless. You are mine.

DJR Journal 8-23-10

Good Morning, Lord   …  Today my brother & I are bringing you this issue of the wandering mind … anytime but especially when we go to prayer.    I started praying and in just a few minutes was wandering.

Did you do the worship that you prayed about doing?

Oops.   I forgot that.   Please help me remember………….. Wow the phone rang with an “emergency” and I was off on the roller coaster .    But I’m back.   I’m finding that YouTube with the worship songs with the lyrics is a good resource for a wandering mind like mine.    From recent days and sensing right now, I am seeing more about forgiveness.   The only way that I need continual forgiveness is if I am continually imperfect.    So that works good because I am continually that and you continually offer forgiveness.    So beating myself up for not being perfect seems to be counterproductive at the very least.      But what about that “Be ye perfect?”

You know that means complete.

Yes, I knew that.   So how does that relate to this?

It is about the process.   You talk about letting me lead and you like Carrie Underwood singing about taking the wheel,   So just do that.   Put some habits into your life that put me in the drivers seat like those YouTube songs and then just let me lead..   you will fail and I will forgive.   That’s the way it is.   You need forgiveness and I have it right here for you.

OK Thanks for the reminder.  

Whenever anything begins to disintegrate your life with Jesus Christ, turn to Him at once, asking Him to re-establish your rest. Never allow anything to remain in your life that is causing the unrest. Think of every detail of your life that is causing the disintegration as something to fight against, not as something you should allow to remain. Ask the Lord to put awareness of Himself in you, and your self-awareness will disappear. Then He will be your all in all. Beware of allowing your self-awareness to continue, because slowly but surely it will awaken self-pity, and self-pity is satanic. Don’t allow yourself to say, “Well, they have just misunderstood me, and this is something over which they should be apologizing to me; I’m sure I must have this cleared up with them already.” Learn to leave others alone regarding this. Simply ask the Lord to give you Christ-awareness, and He will steady you until your completeness in Him is absolute.

A complete life is the life of a child. When I am fully conscious of my awareness of Christ, there is something wrong. It is the sick person who really knows what health is. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. When we have deviated even slightly from the will of God, we begin to ask, “Lord, what is your will?” A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.

If we try to overcome our self-awareness through any of our own commonsense methods, we will only serve to strengthen our self-awareness tremendously. Jesus says, “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest,” that is, Christ-awareness will take the place of self-awareness. Wherever Jesus comes He establishes rest— the rest of the completion of activity in our lives that is never aware of itself.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

August 20, 2010

I have often wondered if something was wrong when I would feel as light as a feather, without the weight of my worries and cares. Surely I must be irresponsible if I feel so free? Or perhaps this is what Jesus meant by coming to Him as a little child.

And God says….”When you are truly connected to me it feels natural. You do not have “to do” anything. Simply rest in Me. When you give your life to me, and ask Me to be the Lord of your life, then simply let Me be Lord of your life, and enjoy your life. Let Me navigate the storms and trials and be at peace.

The greatest testimony you can deliver is a life lived in peace when surrounded by storms. Live in My peace and be at rest, let the Spirit flow through you and experience the joy and peace of a little child.

DJR Journal 8 20 2010

Thank you Lord, for another nudge of direction.   Just yesterday I agreed to teach at Fresno City College.  It was 5 hours so I had time to put in some encouragement and career counseling.   I got the same ovation and feedback that I always get but I only do it every several months.   So I think I’m hearing to do this more often.   Market myself and get in the classroom and various platforms.  ????

I have given you place and a voice.  You gave me some credit today, and you can do so even more.  This will happen as you develop your connection and comfort level.    That’s how I want my sons and daughters, comfortable in their skin and comfortable giving me place in their lives.  Resting in me, knowing that they will get just get closer and closer until they are here full time with me.  And that stumbles are merely stumbles, they get back up and keep on coming.

Lord, I want to ask you a question.   Sometimes I worry that I am charging off in a direction that I could power on my own, without you being anywhere around.   This Green stuff that I teach in the public sphere,  lot’s of guy’s teach similar with no acknowledgement that you even exist.   How do I know I’m in your will and not running my own game?

I appreciate your concern that I get my message out.   But know this, I am fully capable of getting seen and heard.   And I can certainly steer your boat with the blessing and peace meters as we’ve talked about before.   Dont fool yourself, the combination of skills and gifts and experience that I’ve put together in you is unique and I dont want you to squander it.   I have spent a long time developing the platform that you now stand in.   Go with the meters that I have developed for you and dont look back.  I’ll take you aside when it’s time to evaluate and re-direct.  I am in the energizing that you feel so go with it and let me lead in the development.

OK I’ll go with that.

God intends for us to live a well-rounded life in Christ Jesus, but there are times when that life is attacked from the outside. Then we tend to fall back into self-examination, a habit that we thought was gone. Self-awareness is the first thing that will upset the completeness of our life in God, and self-awareness continually produces a sense of struggling and turmoil in our lives. Self-awareness is not sin, and it can be produced by nervous emotions or by suddenly being dropped into a totally new set of circumstances. Yet it is never God’s will that we should be anything less than absolutely complete in Him. Anything that disturbs our rest in Him must be rectified at once, and it is not rectified by being ignored but only by coming to Jesus Christ. If we will come to Him, asking Him to produce Christ-awareness in us, He will always do it, until we fully learn to abide in Him.

Never allow anything that divides or destroys the oneness of your life with Christ to remain in your life without facing it. Beware of allowing the influence of your friends or your circumstances to divide your life. This only serves to sap your strength and slow your spiritual growth. Beware of anything that can split your oneness with Him, causing you to see yourself as separate from Him. Nothing is as important as staying right spiritually. And the only solution is a very simple one— “Come to Me . . . .” The intellectual, moral, and spiritual depth of our reality as a person is tested and measured by these words. Yet in every detail of our lives where we are found not to be real, we would rather dispute the findings than come to Jesus.

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August 19, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

I am beginning to understand that I can find peace and joy, faith and love and a very positive attitude while surrounded by a storm; if I stay connected and praise God for His answers, and agree to receive them even before I even understand what they might be. And I pray that God change my vision and hopes and dreams to those that He has for me.

And God says….”This is indeed the way to live the abundant life on earth where trials and troubles are a matter of course; seek first the Kingdome of God and all these things shall be added to you. Peace, joy, faith and love from knowing that I have you and your future in the palm of my hand.”

“When you let go of your life and allow Jesus to live through you, all things are possible; peace, joy and love become a matter of course…….even in the trials and trouble of this life.”

The rich young ruler went away from Jesus speechless with sorrow, having nothing to say in response to Jesus’ words. He had no doubt about what Jesus had said or what it meant, and it produced in him a sorrow with no words with which to respond. Have you ever been there? Has God’s Word ever come to you, pointing out an area of your life, requiring you to yield it to Him? Maybe He has pointed out certain personal qualities, desires, and interests, or possibly relationships of your heart and mind. If so, then you have often been speechless with sorrow. The Lord will not go after you, and He will not plead with you. But every time He meets you at the place where He has pointed, He will simply repeat His words, saying, “If you really mean what you say, these are the conditions.”

“Sell all that you have . . .” ( Luke 18:22 ). In other words, rid yourself before God of everything that might be considered a possession until you are a mere conscious human being standing before Him, and then give God that. That is where the battle is truly fought— in the realm of your will before God. Are you more devoted to your idea of what Jesus wants than to Jesus Himself? If so, you are likely to hear one of His harsh and unyielding statements that will produce sorrow in you. What Jesus says is difficult— it is only easy when it is heard by those who have His nature in them. Beware of allowing anything to soften the hard words of Jesus Christ.

I can be so rich in my own poverty, or in the awareness of the fact that I am nobody, that I will never be a disciple of Jesus. Or I can be so rich in the awareness that I am somebody that I will never be a disciple. Am I willing to be destitute and poor even in my sense of awareness of my destitution and poverty? If not, that is why I become discouraged. Discouragement is disillusioned self-love, and self-love may be love for my devotion to Jesus— not love for Jesus Himself.

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August 18, 2010

And so I wondered if I would ever “get it” and truly measure up?

And God said………..”No, you can never measure up, not in this life. That is why the sacrifice for you was so great. But you can allow Jesus to live through you, and always measure up. My grace and mercy follows you and covers you because of Jesus. Whenever you feel less than is expected or you fall and feel as if you cannot measure up…..remember Jesus always covers you, and He always measures up.

As you go through your day, stay connected to Jesus and look to Him for not only the spiritual strength to carry you, but look to Him for the wisdom, knowledge, energy and discipline to carry you through your work and relationships.”

“He came so you could have life and life more abundantly. Have it, receive it in Jesus.”

Have you ever heard the Master say something very difficult to you? If you haven’t, I question whether you have ever heard Him say anything at all.Jesus says a tremendous amount to us that we listen to, but do not actually hear. And once we do hear Him, His words are harsh and unyielding.

Jesus did not show the least concern that this rich young ruler should do what He told him, nor did Jesus make any attempt to keep this man with Him. He simply said to him, “Sell all that you have . . . and come, follow Me.” Our Lord never pleaded with him; He never tried to lure him— He simply spoke the strictest words that human ears have ever heard, and then left him alone.

Have I ever heard Jesus say something difficult and unyielding to me? Has He said something personally to me to which I have deliberately listened— not something I can explain for the sake of others, but something I have heard Him say directly to me? This man understood what Jesus said. He heard it clearly, realizing the full impact of its meaning, and it broke his heart. He did not go away as a defiant person, but as one who was sorrowful and discouraged.He had come to Jesus on fire with zeal and determination, but the words of Jesus simply froze him. Instead of producing enthusiastic devotion to Jesus, they produced heartbreaking discouragement. And Jesus did not go after him, but let him go. Our Lord knows perfectly well that once His word is truly heard, it will bear fruit sooner or later. What is so terrible is that some of us prevent His words from bearing fruit in our present life.I wonder what we will say when we finally make up our minds to be devoted to Him on that particular point? One thing is certain— He will never throw our past failures back in our faces.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

August 17, 2010

I think I understand a bit more about taking life and trusting God one day at a time. It just occurred to me that I may only have the capacity for enough faith to carry me one day at a time.

And God says…”I carry you with My love every day. I give you the faith and hope and courage in the form of the Holy Spirit, to live one day at a time. You find the love, faith, hope, trust, courage and connection in prayer, the word and fellowship. And I give you the capacity to capture these daily strengths one day at a time. Like manna from heaven you cannot store them up. Begin to pray without ceasing every morning; seek Me in the word and in fellowship and look for me in everything and every place of your day.

Knock and the doors will open, ask and you shall receive. You will receive all you need, one day at a time.

DJR Journal

Good morning Lord,   Thanks for the reminder today that we chose our name because Manna only lasts one day and we’ll need another daily dose tomorrow.   As JD said, we “might as well use up the fuel for today cause it ain’t going to keep”    I see that you  spoke to people matter of factly about their sin and their needs as to the rich young ruler.  Kind of like, here’s the deal,  it is what it is, take it or leave it, but it is what it is.   You didn’t beg people nor did you scream at them to stop.   (except maybe a few religeous leaders)   So thank you for that and your longsuffering and patience with me.   I have a question.  What if I didn’t obey on  a nudge from a long time ago and it’s not possible to go back and do it now?  Sometimes I think that.  But then I think that the adversary is at least happy if I’m all wound up in a guilt trip…..

You are right.  Dont let him win.   There is no condemnation.  And it is good to live like there is only today.   It is what it is and you get to choose to make the best of the situation.   Grieving over spilt milk will not bring the milk back and it damages MY reputation , (as well as yours) So get up, dry your eyes and choose.   Choose you this day….   Joshua

When we are afraid, the least we can do is pray to God. But our Lord has a right to expect that those who name His name have an underlying confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the ones who are reliable. Yet our trust is only in God up to a certain point, then we turn back to the elementary panic-stricken prayers of those people who do not even know God. We come to our wits’ end, showing that we don’t have even the slightest amount of confidence in Him or in His sovereign control of the world. To us He seems to be asleep, and we can see nothing but giant, breaking waves on the sea ahead of us.

“. . . O you of little faith!” What a stinging pain must have shot through the disciples as they surely thought to themselves, “We missed the mark again!” And what a sharp pain will go through us when we suddenly realize that we could have produced complete and utter joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, in spite of what we were facing.

There are times when there is no storm or crisis in our lives, and we do all that is humanly possible. But it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to place our trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we can go to the point of breaking, yet without breaking our confidence in Him.

We have been talking quite a lot about sanctification, but what will be the result in our lives? It will be expressed in our lives as a peaceful resting in God, which means a total oneness with Him. And this oneness will make us not only blameless in His sight, but also a profound joy to Him.

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Journal Entry for Today-JDV

August 12, 2010

I am facing some  trials and as a matter of course, I find myself counting my blessings, and recalling all the times that God has met me right at the point and time of my need. I can recall time after time when He was right there exactly when I needed Him, not a minute early, nor a minute late, He has always been right on time.

I can also recall my prayers becoming more and more intense as the crisis seemed to grow with time and pending events. And He was always there…..never early, but right on time.

And God says……”You see difficult circumstances as trials and tests while I see your trials as opportunities for you to bring Me glory. Your natural inclination is to want to avoid pain and seek peace in pleasant times absent worry and strife. You believe in the plans and preparations you have made for this life and you trust that your plans and preparations will provide for you. If that were true, then you would receive the glory. Many look to live in this fashion.

But My children trust in Me in all things…..”Trust in the Lord in all your ways and do not relay on your own devices and I will make your paths straight”. They seek Me first and trust me to lead them into peace regardless of circumstances. You will experience trials and storms you cannot prepare for, that is the way of this life, and  I came to give you life and life more abundantly,

Stay connected to Me and find the joy and peace of abundant living regardless of your circumstances…AND know that I will always meet you at the point of your needs and at the precise and perfect moment of my choosing. I am the God I am.