Let's Catch Up...

Since I haven't been posting, I'd like to include some journal entries of mine of things the Lord has been speaking to me over the last few months. May His words be a blessing to you as well.

The importance of daily coming to the Living Water is extreme. Even more than we need water, we need to stay spiritually hydrated. It's no wonder we begin feeling fatigued. We must gather new mannah every day and come for fresh water. The truth (that we so struggle to live) is actually quite simple. His burden is the lightest, His yoke easy. Living extravagantly for Him is hard...when you are believing the lie that you must do it. The simple practice me must daily do is drink from His living water (be refreshed by His Holy Spirit), eat of the new mannah (fresh words), and live in the power of the Holy Spirit, not taking on the responsibility ourselves.

Journaling

This morning I was feeling bad for not posting anything in so long. Over the past few months, I had been feeling as if I really had nothing worthwhile to write. I felt like everything was so dry and kept pursuing the Lord for that freshness of the morning that I love so much. It can become discouraging when you feel spiritually dry. It's especially hard to journal because the words do not feel enlightening as they once did.
However, I believe journaling is one of the most important spiritual practices. First of all, our fallen human brains cannot begin to contain or retain the information (that sounds so dry...revelation) we receive in prayer and study of God's word. No matter how impacting the revelation was that morning, in 5 years we will not remember it with the articulation that we did that morning. By writing it down, we provide a way for ourselves to revisit, relearn, and even learn in a deeper way. It allows more time for contemplation and growth of the truth that is implanted in our mind and heart.
Second, journaling is a sure defense against attacks of the enemy. How the enemy would like us to believe all we're doing is having a dear diary moment and that it is either not important enough to do or it is not worth revisiting. Journaling is the proof of growth in our life and hearts; it is the proof that God is speaking to us. Oh how the enemy hates for us to realize this.
I have been reading over my journal entries from the "dry" season, when I felt so boring. How wrong I've been! Yes, maybe the feelings of excitement and newness have not been there, but the newness, the revelations, the fresh anointing of the Lord for living that day is there. Oh what a weapon fighting for me has journaling been! It's impossible to convince me that the Lord does not speak to me when I read over my past journal entries.
So I encourage you, especially if you are feeling dry, journal! Battle the lie that God has nothing to say to you right now or that you cannot hear Him. It may not feel like you can, but write it down, He is speaking. And revisit some of your journals. How powerful are the words of God spoken specifically to you in the secret place. Don't believe the enemy. Pick up your weapons for war and journal.

Facination

Relationship longevity depends in part on fascination. Ask the Lord to fascinate your heart again every day.

It's New This Morning

"Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
²³ They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness." 


Every morning, the Lord has something new, something that's never been there before...that has never been before. Do not be content to gather once or twice a week when you could have His newness every single day. Receive and be a fragrance of blessing and a storehouse of wisdom. 


Go to His Presence this morning. There is something new there.

Inheritance for the Faithful

There is a great inheritance for those who obey wholeheartedly and faithfully. Look at Caleb. I'm sure there were days that were mundane, days that were hard to continue to be faithful while wondering in the desert. I'm sure there were tiring days when he just wanted to be done and finally receive what had been promised to him so many years before. Days when he just wanted to settle down and rest for awhile. But he kept going, obeying with his heart, believing and fully grasping the reward ahead.

If we could see eternity like Caleb saw the Promise Land, we can continue with that kind of steadfast spirit Caleb had and receive a great inheritance. It's so worth it; we've got to see eternity.

What We Were Made For

"So the life of man upon the earth is a life away from the Presence, wrenched loose from that 'blissful center' which is our right and proper dwelling place...the loss of which is the cause of our unceasing restlessness." ~Tozer

We were not made for the omnipresence of the Lord.

It's the manifest presence we were created for. This explains the longing, even though we "know God is here," we often say. We need His intimate presence, not just the presence that the entire earth is in, with or without knowing.

It is not just the omnipresence of the Lord that causes the elders to bow down, laying down their crowns and crying out, "You are worthy, Oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things and for Your pleasure they were and are created!" (Rev. 4:11)

So don't settle for just the omnipresence. Ask for more. Like all the great ones of the Bible- Abraham, His friend, Moses, the one who He spoke to face-to-face- these men were not ok with just the omnipresence. They wanted the intimate, manifest presence of the Lord that Adam had in the Garden. And the Lord wanted them to experience it.

As for You, Stand Here by Me

In Deuteronomy 5, Moses recounts the story of the Lord coming down to the people to speak to them and give them His commandments. But the people were afraid. They feared the Lord, as they should have, but because they did not have a relationship or a desire for one, their fear drew them away from the Lord. Unlike Moses when he first saw the burning bush, instead of drawing nearer and experiencing more of this awesome, fearful, loving God, they sent Moses to go for them. "You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say, and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you, and we will hear and do it" (Deuteronomy 5:27). Then the Lord says to Moses, "Go and say to them 'Return to your tents.' But as for you, stand here by Me" (vs. 31).

This happens so much, too much. How often does the church say to its leaders or some of its members "You go near and then tell us about it"? Then, when the Lord says, "Ok, it that's what you want, return to your tents" they think "See, it's the Lord's will for some people to do that and we can still benefit." But really they are missing out! The Lord is not saying to them, "Stand here by Me."

I don't want to be one who fears the Lord but has no relationship. I want the Lord to say, "Stand here by Me" not "return to your tent." I want to seek Him and find out what's on His heart. His heart is not as complex as we think...no. In the whole of the law and all that the Lord tells Moses to tell them, the first part- and main part- is "love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength" (Deuteronomy 6:5).

God did not choose His people because He wanted to have someone to tell what to do; He wanted a people to love and to love Him back. So don't be one of the ones who says "you go up"! Seek Him yourself and find in the fearfully powerful God a heart of Love and desire for His people.

Mornings

I used to think mornings were meant for sleeping. In fact, our culture greatly values "sleeping in." Really, we only wake up before the sun when we have to. Otherwise it's "yay! I get to sleep in!" However, we are really missing something with this view of mornings. Recently, I've been waking up early (about 5:30) to pray. I thought I was going to really show the Lord my sacrifice and be one of those "hardcore" believers. But now I realize, I'm not sacrificing...ive been sacrificing a treasure for years. Now, I wouldn't miss the early morning air,seeing the sunrise, and meeting the heart of God the very first thing in the morning. I highly encourage you to live the mornings. Don't by into the lie that mornings are hard and only for the hardcore. They at a treasure. Yes, when that alarm first goes off, it may not feel like a treasure. But I assure, before long, you wouldn't miss it for all the sleeping in. Pray for grace to awaken early. And, if your like me, even more importantly pray for the grace to go to bed earlier. Don't miss the treasure of the morning. Don't believe the lie that it is only for the few. Get up early and experience the joy of the morning. From someone who has been missing out for so long....don't sacrifice the treasurer anymore. It's not worth it.

Simplicity

What is incredible about simplicity is how much greater its blessing is. When we just ask for Jesus, we realize this is all we want. Not that we are content with just that, but that we want Him so fully we reject all else in attempt to completely fill our heart with that which is most pleasurable: exchange of Love with Jesus.

Faith Is Not Blind

Hebrews 11:11

Even though it was impossible what He had promised, Sarah knew He Who had promised was faithful. This was the key to her faith. It was not based on the situation, it was not even based on the promise; it was based on her knowledge of Him.

We must have the knowledge of God. We must know Him and know His faithfulness, or we will have what we call faith, but it is blind, and faith is not blind. Somehow, the enemy has gotten this lie into the church of "blind faith," "stepping out on nothing." Faith is in fact the opposite of this! Faith is seeing! Faith is knowing! Faith is evidence (Hebrews 11:1)! Faith is substance! You can't live years and years on this "blind faith." This is not how Abraham died not having received the promises but seeing them afar off embraced them (Hebrews 11:13). Faith is using eyes that can actually see.

The Secret of Holy Discontent

What does a heart with a holy discontent and an overwhelming desire to look for God look like? Read the Psalms. David wasn't just dramatic. With all his heart he longed, he ached to find God and in joyous outbursts he expresses his many discoveries. David's aching didn't just come from being oppressed by enemies; it came from an overwhelming, passionate desire to seek God.

How prideful is it to think we do not need to seek because we already have God? Do we really think that our tiny little hearts have fully known God? How can this be when we cannot even fully know a person in a lifetime? No, we are eternal beings, made to eternally search out the eternal God. And just as the living creatures around the Throne never cease day and night to look at Him and praise Him, so we will never tire of searching Him out for all eternity.

It is a sad heart that settles all too soon at only being introduced to God and never seeking Him out further. So never stop. Go deeper. Want more. Seek. Knock. Ask. In all of history He never disappoints the seeking heart, discontented without more of Him.

God's Heartbeat for the Unborn

This morning as I was praying I began to pray for the unborn and for the ending of abortion. As I prayed the Lord began to speak to me about how I, and I think many people in our nation, see the issue of abortion. I pray about it when I "feel lead" to pray; I treat it almost as a side issue and view it as political leverage. I don't think I consciously realized this but when the Lord pointed this out to me I realized: this is not how the Lord sees it. The Lord's heart breaks and cries out for His children; this is no side political issue for Him. This is front and center. And our nation cannot continue in ignorance or numbness to bloodshed of His children.

So I invite you to join me. To join me in praying for the unborn. To join in me in asking the Lord to move our nation into a position to receive mercy instead of judgement. To join me in feeling the heartbreak of God and asking the Lord every day to have mercy on us and end abortion. To join me in praying, "Jesus, I plead Your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America."

Search out the Mysteries

We are made to search out the mysteries of God for all eternity. Yet our satisfaction is not in the "answer" to our searchings but rather in the eternal exploration of the Father's heart.

Shoreless Ocean, who can sound Thee? Thine own eternity is round Thee, Majesty Divine!

Faith to Move the Heart of God

"By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, 'and was not found, because God had taken him,' for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Hebrews 11:5

Enoch did not taste death but was taken by the Lord early in his life, he so pleased God. This was not just pleasing relative to his time. In other words, e did not please God more because so many around him weren't. His faith actually moved he heart of God. And his testimony throughout the ages is one who brought pleasure to the heart of God by his faith. This is not unattainable! This the saints can do! Oh God give me the faith to move Your heart and shake the heavens. Faith comes before all else. How can I really love without faith? How can I trust and obey without faith? Faith is the precursor to all that pleases the Father. And He gives it! This is not unattainable or for the few. We can move God's heart!

The Personality of God

"We Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word. We have almost forgotten that God is a Person and, as such, can be cultivated as any person can." -Tozer

Words on a page are easier and less fearful than a relationship with the all-mighty, all-powerful God...and so much less fulfilling. Our heart's desire and life fulfillment is found in this relationship with this Person, not in a "relationship" with just His words. "This is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent" (John 17:3). This is the meaning of our life; not to know who God is but to fully know Him and be fully known by Him.

We tend to make unseen personalities unreal. But when we see them, they become real. This is why we  must see God through faith. This is the key to the testimony of Hebrews 11 (see verse 2). Having faith to see and therefore begin to know God as a Person.

In a relationship there is no end to the exploring. The more we explore, the more we know on another. The more we know one another, the more there is to explore. We truly are eternal beings made for eternal relationships.