I have designed you with a spark in your eye and in Mine! Flaws and all, I made you uniquely,- and I AM IN YOU. My children often forget that – that you have MY genes! That’s what makes you “in My image”. Head into this day realizing you are more like Me than you’ve given yourself credit for in the past. You “take after Me”, you resemble Me – with mannerisms, wit, grace, style, kindness. My offspring. Take the best traits in Me and make them all part of you today. You “come by it naturally”. It won’t be hard. Trust Me with the truth of your Godly heritage.
spirituality
Shed the Details
Hear Me: I do not “reprimand you” – I am not that kind of God! If you face challenges that seem to attack your spirit, know that I may be forming or shaping you more into My likeness, and so choose to say, “thank you”. Choose to TRUST, knowing that I will reveal Myself to you fully each step of your life. My ways are not meant to be hard. Sometimes they call upon you to stop focusing on the details, enlightening simpler priorities and gleaning peace from it all as you learn a life of simplicity. Stop fretting; stop “sweating the small stuff”. Release those daily annoyances that frustrate you so much, and know that My Peace is within your grasp. I’m not a punitive God trying to teach some sort of mean lesson to you. My peace will satisfy far more fully than what this world defines as accomplishment or success. My peace I leave you; My peace I give to you…Not as the world gives, do I give. Joy unimaginable! Wonder beyond belief. All of this is within your reach. Shed the unimportant details. Seek peace, and follow after it.
Shortcomings Overlooked
Spend time with Me, – not rushed, – …focused. Take pleasure in this sacred space. I know you are frustrated with yourself. Your shortcomings feel like they are controlling your every move. I don’t see it like that. Yes, I recognize the times when you are less-than-what-I-have-taught-you. I see the times of irritation and short temper. I also see the times of patience, kindness, and deliberate choices to serve other’s needs before your own. I see you trying to “hold it all together” or put up a strong front. I look at this whole package and love you ever-so-much. You are My beloved! Holy and chosen for Good purposes. Stop being so down on yourself. Stop worrying about appearances. People love you and are drawn to you. I need you to do My works without overextending yourself to a point of resentment and bitterness. Rest. Fatigue can make all things sour. Slow your pace today and allow yourself time to pause and recognize My Presence and My partnership with you and those around you.
Rest Your Head
Imagine, if you will, a quiet place. Warm temps, slight breeze, soft light. Comforting surroundings. A place where ALL YOUR NEEDS ARE BEING MET. Go there in your mind and sit down. Now, I come along to rest next to you. There is nothing unsettling or unsafe about My Presence. We sit together, relaxing, in silence. You are aware of My Presence and it, too, comforts you. Today, try to remove the concerns, the worries, the comments, the decisions – all vying for time in your head. Don’t worry about answers and solutions. Let the Light surrounding you FILL you. RESTORATION will result from this exercise. You will be restored to right-thinking, restored of energy, replenished with peace in your spirit. My Presence is enough to heal you. Your needs ARE being met – choose to believe this, and trust will follow. Come to Me in silence. Rest your weary head. Enjoy My Presence.
“Untwisted”
Go forth into this day knowing you are well-equipped for whatever tasks are at hand. I give you the tools you will need – reasoning, wisdom, words to speak, energy to accomplish what is needed. When anxiety begins to bundle you in knots, turn to Me to help untwist them. I know what is important; I know what is necessary and what can be discarded, -but you do not always know or see these things as clearly. When you find yourself overwhelmed or wrestling, think to turn to Me for help. Pause, and allow the Great I AM to breathe calm into you & give you the direction you need, ONE PIECE AT A TIME. Do not get caught up in worry over many things: one thing, and one thing only is all I designed you to do.
Content with Life
It’s okay that you don’t feel 100% joyful today. I never intended you to experience only joy when you decided to follow Me. I do gift you with the capacity to be grateful, though, – and joy is born out of gratitude. I also offer simple peace to you, with open access to finding your fill of that. My peace is always available. It takes self-discipline to learn to set aside your worries , wishes, and needs long enough to hear My ever-present reassurance that ALL IS WELL. Return to simplicity of thought. In the present moment, practice allowing a contentment with your life just as it IS, knowing that your future is addressed by My loving hands.
Share Your Load
Remember that you are dependent on Me. You get so caught up into thinking you must push yourself and carry so much independently. I see your fearful insides, worrying that you can’t handle it all…That’s because you’ve forgotten that I will handle so much FOR you. I see you stooped over, falling down with the weight of your world. Look to Me instead. Seek Me first. Don’t wait until you are a frazzled, stressed out, crabby mess. Let Me soothe you. Let Me carry some of that weight. See how I lift that burden from your shoulders, allowing you to stand up straighter and lift your face and gaze to the heavens, – soaking in My Light! Stay faithful to Me. Share your load. My love for you will provide abundantly.
Hungry for Joy
Don’t allow anything to “steal your joy”. Not bills, not misguided desires for comfort, excess, belonging, or surplus wealth. Self-consciousness is another trap, – locking you in places I do not wish you to be. Try to not allow the words of others impact you so much. When you give weight and power to the opinions of others, it tugs you away from awareness of My Presence and My constant love for you. Step aside from these traps. Walk safely next to Me, away from the dark thieves trying to entice you around corners that do not truly satisfy. Find the purity and simplicity of My joy, an unending well of supply available for you. There is Light around the corner when you take My hand. Instead of wishing for things that aren’t present in your life, or fearing things imagined but not actualized, acknowledge all the ways I am meeting your needs in the present moment. I long to meet and fulfill your hunger for true joy.
Go Easy
Choose to love. Choose to go easy on others. Hopefully this will help ease how hard you are on yourself. Kindness, forgiveness, patience – these are gifts of Grace I bestow upon you and I ask you to bestow upon others – but don’t neglect bestowing it upon yourself. Sometimes, – too often, really – you push yourself hard and judge yourself harshly. This breaks My heart! If you have wronged another, go and apologize and begin the healing process for you both. If others judge you critically or have wronged you, lift this situation up to My eyes and My pierced hands will help take this burden from you to begin your own process of healing. Go easy today, surrounded in My Grace, which will sustain, heal, guide, and strengthen you as you need.
Water
You’ve heard me say it before: “Peace is flowing like a river”. What a glorious thing to take in: a whole RIVER of peace! Calm, restful waters; abundant flow; never-ending in its source and well-spring of goodness. For some this river will seem as if it’s located in a different land, far away from you…but this is not accurate. This river is glistening for YOU, awaiting your footsteps and wanting you to walk toward its shoreline. Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome. Come lay beside My restful waters. Wash your hands clean of the stains and muddied hurts from the past. Rinse away the worries in My water of refreshment. If there are tears to shed, add them to My river flow and watch them flow downstream, where Grace will transform them from sadness to peace elsewhere for others who will need your comfort shared with them. All things will be turned into good in My hands.
Spoken to Me 