How you define usefulness and how I judge are not always the same thing. You are prone and programmed to measure by volume of tasks completed and number of goals achieved. I may only ask for minimal things, wanting instead for you to spend loving, quality time with Me or with others. It’s okay to slow your pace down for a while. When I give you opportunities for space like this, take advantage of it. I designed “down time” to help restore and replenish your soul. Take a right turn on Easy Street for a pleasant detour, and stop driving yourself so hard for a change. Delight in My Presence and in your surroundings. Acknowledge Me as your vision and appreciation for the little things opens up, widening your perspective. Take it easy, storing up treasures of energy for another day when it will be needed.
devotional
Allow Me to Take Over
You don’t need to seek some sort of ‘magical formula’ from Me to experience joy or goodness. Light is all around you, and accessible to you at any time. Perhaps you need to set aside your troubles for a while. Take a break from all the worry and stress by placing these cares into My capable hands. Allow yourself to take in a deep breath. Release. Soak in the comfort I offer you by lifting those burdens, even if you can only imagine this as a temporal thing. Try it now. Breath in deeply, embracing and packaging up all that burdens you and weighs you down. Hold that breath as you gather multiple items of concern and place it in a package to deliver directly to Me. Then release that breath, sending every item on for Me to unpack and address for you. As you relax and breath more and more easily, focus intently on the LIGHT infusing all around you. This is My Presence. Allow Me to take over. Ask Me to be in charge. Invite Me to show you how much I care about your every concern. As you do this, see how you become the Light you so long for by allowing Me in.
Open Invitation
Spend time with Me. I long for your attention, and once you start, you will find you crave Mine in return. I am ever-present to you. When you feel most frazzled, seek My face. Know that I “get it”. I can console or guide you as needed. Being in relationship with Me means making the time for us to be attentive to one another. I can do that in a flash of an instant with you as well as in long, luxurious measures of prayer time. It is called Devotion for a reason. Make a love commitment of attentiveness to Me with purity of heart and with intentional and purposeful focus, just as I am devoted to you. Have you chosen to be so with Me lately? I will never chastise you for periods of absence. You will always be celebrated like My prodigal son when you turn your heart toward Me. It remains an open invitation in every hour, every moment. Come back to Me. Seek Me with your whole heart.
First Love
Keep Me as your first love. You have many things that tug at your heart strings, clamoring for your investment of attention and affection. It’s okay, – in fact, it is Good! – to love My creation. I merely ask that you seek Me, spend time with Me, thank Me, and LOVE Me first. When your attention is divided or is solely focused on something or someone beyond Me, an emptiness may prevail. I long for you. I want to bless the people and pleasures that fill your attention. Seek Me, find Me, talk with Me. See how I help you focus on what is worthy of your attention.
Hunger and Satisfaction
What are you hungry for? Attention? Prestige? Stability? Excess? Find your ultimate security and pleasure in Me first. When you fix your eyes on Me, something happens to the appeal for other things. Your desires can be for good when brought into focus through My Lighting. You may need to release your grip for a while, allowing Me to take away that which is unhealthy for you and to re-order your priorities. Be hungry for Love, and for the Good of all. Stand ready to supply support and encouragement. Take notice of times when you need to retreat into the background. I will organize for the greater Good, and you will find satisfaction as you see My works unfold. Be filled with holy desire. We are One.
Design for Good
Life: enriched and full. Bask in the Goodness I have surrounded you with. It is neither earned, nor doomed to be withdrawn or leave you empty-handed. The phrase “the Lord gives and the Lord takes away” mistakenly leaves many fearful that I am a mean God who enjoys teasing with dangling carrots, then pulls the rug out from under you. I am nothing like that! Yes, there are, and have been, and will be difficult times, – but your pain, grief, or suffering is never orchestrated by Me to make you learn a cruel lesson. No! My design is always for the GOOD. When bad things happen, I walk with you and find ways to lift you back up. I never abandon you. Nor do I want you to not enjoy an easier life, or one blessed with Good things. I delight in giving you joy and comfort. All I ask is that when you are in a balanced state with surplus, share the wealth. Be generous – of time, talent, and resources. Take notice of when I tug your heartstrings, nudging you to give or extend yourself in some way. Respond to My call. What you have been given is meant for the greater Good of all.
Unfold
There is time enough for EVERYTHING. Work will unfold, piece by piece, task by task before you. What I need accomplished may be results that you will never see. Be present fully to each task, each encounter, and the day will unfold as it should. Trust Me in that process. Go willingly into your day with this mindset. Instead of feeling like it’s “all up to you”, reach for My hand and take a walk with Me. It’s OK to take a break. Feel and notice My Presence with each door you enter. Let Me carry the load for a while. I will hand off to you small tasks along the way which you are fully equipped to handle, by My design. Let Me give you the work to do in reasonable increments. Pause to thank Me for My Presence and guidance. You can be at peace even in busy times because you are never alone! I am with you. I AM is with you.
Stop and Rest
There is a time for rest. Rest rejuvenates. Periods of rest ignite the needed energy to move on. You are anxious about many things. Devote time for rest. I use the word “devote” for you to make this into an act of worship. When you intentionally build in breaks and a slowed pace, this allows you to receive My Grace and sustenance. It opens the window to hear My voice. When you make it a choice to stop and rest out of love for Me and My guidance, it leads you to a whole new level of relationship and balance. This is part of a God-driven life, – holy and sacred; One with all things.
Consolation
Be consoling to one another. So many of My children are grieving losses that go unnamed and unattended to. If all would soften their hearts and let down their guards, it would help healing begin. There is a time for sorrow, which cannot be rushed. Some stay stuck in their anger, or remain feeling hurt, betrayed, or helpless after a deep loss. I am a God who gives and takes away, but this term has mistakenly been used. Never do I inflict hurt or pain by inflicting tragedy or loss. I am not a mean-spirited Lord. As a God who knows sorrow and grief well, I accompany, replace, and nurture out of every loss. Turn to Me. My Grace fills the cracks and binds the pieces together in a new way. Be part of that healing Grace. Listen, attentively, and with soft words and compassionate eyes, you will be a vessel of My hand touching the tender wounds. I am thoroughly attentive to all your needs, and of those around you. Be My hands and feet in the world. You are needed, and you are loved.
Decisions
Listen. It will come to you. That thought, that decision that needs to be made; wait for it, and it will come to you in due time. Sometimes you need to act in faith, trusting Me with the outcomes, and make a decision even without complete confidence on your part up front. Instead of crying out in fear with “I don’t know what to do!”, remember that I do know. As I lead and you choose to follow, I will guide your next steps. Take one step. Maybe even take the leap. Whether the decisions before you are small and seemingly inconsequential, or are monumental and overwhelming, I AM WITH YOU. I will nudge you one way or another; your work is to move forward with trust in My direction and My outcomes. Stillness before movement is good and essential, but eventually I call you to move. I allow and encourage sound reasoning; stagnancy is not part of My holy plan. You can trust My Holy Spirit to be your guide always, – helping you to be brave as you step into unfamiliar territory. Remember, each choice made in faith leads you closer to Me. I am a safe and loving God.
Spoken to Me 