Sunday, July 30, 2017

One Step at a Time

Hello everyone,

Have you ever wanted to take a peek into your future? Perhaps you've  imagined how convenient it would be should the Lord give you a quick 'download' of the next five years or so? If you have, you are not alone.  Many people want to know God's will for their lives. They even expect Him to reveal the details of their future in one enormous revelation.  But that's not always how God works.

In Psalms 37:23, it says that the STEPS of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord.  As we spend time in prayer and in God's Word, He reveals His perfect will for us, one step at a time.  If any changes are needed to be made in our lives, He reveals them to us, usually one at a time.  Ever wondered why?  I believe it's so that we can learn to recognise His leading,  yield to it willingly and through each victory, build our trust in Him.  Can you imagine knowing that each time you draw near to Him and seek His wisdom, He has already placed His will in your heart.  And as you grow confidently quiet in His presence, you expect to sense exactly what He is leading you to do.  This reminds me of Isaiah 30:15, "...In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” It may be the simplest of things He places on your heart to do, but I guarantee, as you take that first step and obey Him, it will lead you to another, and then another, until your whole life has set course on a remarkable journey that displays His goodness and mercy in every area of your life. In fact, the intimacy you become dependant on, causes you to enjoy a new revelation of who you are in Christ, while your life overflows with evidence of the good work He has and continues to do in you.  Psalm 1 calls that evidence fruit.  In Proverbs 3:6, it says that when we acknowledge the Lord in all our ways, leaning on His understanding, He will direct our paths.  You see, His Word is a light that shines in the darkness and reveals each step we need to take, ONE STEP AT A TIME.  

Interesting enough, the Greek word for reveal means to unveil or uncover something that was always there.  It portrays a picture of something that is hidden, until the moment it is suddenly uncovered or the veil is removed.  The result is what was hidden for so long now comes into plain view.  1 Corinthians 2:9,10 speaks of how God's plans for us, that were at one time concealed from our eyes, are revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.   "But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

When the Holy Spirit, through the truth of God's Word, reveals His plans to us, one step at a time, we receive that revelation FROM HIS SPIRIT TO OURS.  Even though our minds are essential, powerful tools that assist us in walking in victory when they are renewed to God's truth; there are some things they will never perceive.  It's our spirits that receive the revelation of God's supernatural plans and spiritual truths He has planned for us to walk in.  

Psalm 25:5 and 10 says, "Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You [You only and altogether] do I wait [expectantly] all the day long....All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies."

As we sincerely ask in faith and genuinely open our hearts to the Lord, we can confidently expect Him to guide us, one step at a time.

All my love,

Jenny


Tuesday, July 18, 2017

The Higher Life


As children of God, filled with His Spirit, we are called to live a different life.  One that is marked by taking God at His Word and trusting Him to take care of everything concerning us.  This is called the HIGHER LIFE, and you can recognise it immediately by the way someone responds to the challenges of life.  

In Matthew 11:28,29 Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease) for your souls."  When stress comes, and we know it always does, do we choose to come to the Lord and trust Him to take care of the issues that are burdening us?  If we have the attitude that it's our responsibility to battle through the problems in our own strength and wisdom, our pride will lead us to much toil and worry that simply isn't productive or healthy.  In fact, we limit God when we carry the weight of the care on our shoulders.

Jesus pointed out that it takes humility to lay our troubles on Him, because it's a matter of trust.  Do we really trust Him enough to honour His promises and take care of us, better than we can ourselves?  

Psalm 139:23,24 says, "Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."   In the previous letter we explored the truth of surrendering our lives to the thorough inspection of the Holy Spirit, yielding to His healing touch.  This certainly requires a tremendous amount of trust doesn't it?  Now, let's go one step further, seeing where this trust leads to.  The Psalm above says that THE LORD Himself WILL LEAD US IN THE WAY EVERLASTING.  

In Luke 4:18, Jesus declares He is anointed to heal the broken hearted.  That word broken refers to something that is not in its correct or perfectly functional state.  So a heart that is troubled, stressed or in a state of dis-ease, is in fact broken and requires the attention of the Healer and Creator to put it back in a state of ease and peace, so that His life can flow unhindered in and through it.  Simply put, Jesus, through the work of the Holy Spirit will lead us in a process to de-stress our hearts, to keep a healthy flow of God's life coursing in and through us. If we trust Him enough to follow His lead.

As much as correcting our wrong thinking by renewing our minds to God's truth is our responsibility, the process is not to be done without the person of the Holy Spirit.  He leads us to the truth of His Word that corrects wrong thinking patterns, and produces peace and faith in the process . 

It usually in our self surrender, that the Holy Spirit helps us IDENTIFY those thoughts that are causing us to lose the correct focus.  He leads us to the truth that must REPLACE them.  That truth is always in line with His Word and in complete harmony with His nature.  As we REJECT any incorrect thought and replace it with God's truth, we immediately begin to feel His flow of peace and life.

Although the Spirit of God resides in us, in full measure, we control the measure of life-flow from Him into every area of our lives.  Being diligent to guard our thoughts, keeps that flow of life strong and healthy.  That's how we live the higher Life, and here's a glimpse of the kind of thought process that resembles it: 2 Timothy 2:8 teaches us to, "Constantly KEEP IN MIND Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] risen from the dead,...".  We live the higher life when we CONSTANTLY REMEMBER the VICTORIOUS Spirit of JESUS, Who has overcome the world, IS LIVING INSIDE OF US! 

Hebrews 12:2, says we must always be "LOOKING AWAY [FROM ALL THAT WILL DISTRACT ] TO JESUS, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]."  Do you see it?  Our faith is made perfect and extremely powerful when we stop paying attention to anxious thoughts and keep our focus on Jesus!  Verse 3 puts is perfectly!  It's says,  "JUST THINK OF HIM Who endured....so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds." 

Keeping our thoughts on Jesus and His promises, causes us to live in the fullness of life He paid the price for us to enjoy!  But it doesn't happen automatically.  Consistently living in vital union with the Holy Spirit keeps us alert to any dangerous thoughts, and at the ready to combat and replace them before they hinder the flow of life from His Spirit inside us.  That's how we live the Higher Life.

Much love,



Jenny

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Self-surrender

Hello everyone,

Since our hearts (spirits), are the place where the life of God's Spirit flows in and through us; it's essential for us to constantly be aware of their condition.  Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.".  In those times we feel unease rise up in our hearts, we must be diligent to take immediate action before that unsettling frustration leads to something that has the power to hinder the flow of supernatural life in and through our hearts.  

What a joy to know we don't need to fret and wonder over how to deal with the issues of our hearts.  We have a wonderful partner in the Holy Spirit, Who not only loves us completely, but knows us thoroughly and is more than willing and able to lead us through the process of keeping our hearts healthy and uncontaminated. 

Let's take a look at what the last couple of verses of Psalms 139 have to say, "Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (verse 23,24).

Two truths stand out to me here.  Firstly, a way to an uncontaminated heart is a COMPLETE SELF SURRENDER to the thorough inspection of the Holy Spirit.  I really love this process, because I'm not afraid of the shameful things He may find, rather, I'm confident in how much He loves and cares for me.  He is not critical or judgemental, and we can trust Him to do a complete and perfect work in us, without subjecting us to scrutiny.  Psalm 51:17 says, "My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise." (Amplified).

A couple of months ago, my son Jordan was playing with his siblings and a few friends in a river, on a farm.  The mud on the river bed is a thick, black mucky clay that sucks and sticks fast onto anyone who ventures into it.  Somehow, in all the excitement, a hand full of that yucky, black mud got flung straight into Jordan's eyes. No matter how they tried, they just couldn't get it splashed out and he was in agony.  Somehow, they managed to lead him back to the house where I could lay him down and gently get each mucky, clump of black goo out of his eyes.  Afterward, I gently treated his eyes with disinfectant drops.  Jordan's desire to get free of the pain, far outweighed any discomfort he endured from me prodding and probing into his extremely sensitive eyes.  He trusted me to take care of him, no matter how intrusive the process.  Just the same, we can openly and wholeheartedly surrender ourselves to the precious Holy Spirit, welcoming His intimate touch in the most secret chambers of our hearts and minds.   All it takes is a willingness for us to come before Him, and yield ourselves to His touch.  And then to wait for and expect Him to wash over our souls, doing a deep, thorough work through His presence.  I've often found some of my greatest times of refreshing and healing comes from 'losing myself' in His presence during worship, whether alone at home, in my car, or even in church. 

Isaiah 55:1 says, "WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]." (Amplified).

In my next letter, I'll show you the second truth I found about this process of having our hearts uncontaminated through our co-operation with the Holy Spirit.  Until then, enjoy every opportunity that presents itself to lay your heart open to the wonderful touch of the Holy Spirit in your life.  Remember, it's the self-surrender that accepts the blessing. 


All my love,

Jenny


Sunday, July 9, 2017

Above All Else



This week I was listening to a message by Sarah Pearsons entitled 'Healing From the Heart'.  (www.pearsonsministries.com). The message itself was full of truth, but what impressed me the most was the messenger.  Sarah spoke from the conviction of her heart.  It was very evident that the Holy Spirit had done a special work within her, producing fruit that brought healing not only to her own heart, but to those open to receive her words.

I suppose it reminded me again that our faith is not based on knowledge of the Word alone, but the living experience of the Holy Spirit at work within us.  He is actively and intricately involved in our hearts, producing supernatural fruit that causes everything pertaining to life and godliness to flow in and through us.  Proverbs 4:20-23 clearly confirms this when it says that life flows from our hearts, which is the place where God resides.

Perhaps what really struck a chord with me was the truth that a healthy heart, actively filled and overflowing with the presence of the Holy Spirit, opens the door to promotion in life.  The fruit the Holy Spirit produces within us, makes a way for us to flourish, succeed and be productive in life.  Also, the cleaner the heart (from things like anxiety, unbelief, unforgiveness, and the like), the clearer the mind!  Wow, there is a truck load of truth in that statement alone!  After listening to teachings by Dr. Michelle Strydom on the heart - mind connection, my understanding of this statement has increased immensely.  Since every thought has the potential to influence the flow of life from the Spirit of God that lives inside of us, it is of utmost importance we keep a diligent watch over the condition of our hearts, and the thoughts we allow to influence them.  It's no wonder Proverbs tells us to guard our hearts ABOVE ALL ELSE .  

Scripture constantly teaches us the importance of not allowing our hearts to be troubled.  We are warned to keep worry and anxious thoughts out of our lives.  In truth, every thought that distracts us from our source of life cannot be entertained or allowed to dwell in our minds.  I love the way Sarah put it, she said we should be constantly aware of the condition of our hearts by checking if there is anything 'off' inside our innermost thoughts.  I read something in Psalm 42:11 about this, "Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God."   Being on the lookout for any tell tale signs that indicate a 'blockage' in the flow of life that should be flowing from the Spirit of God inside of us, is essential.  Any wayward, rebellious thoughts that have latched themselves to our minds and distracted our focus cause that blockage.  The result is a feeling of agitation and frustration just below the surface, which is a clear indication that all is not well within.  Don't just push down that feeling of unease, it won't go away unless you purposefully do something about the thought process that produced it.   

In our next letter, I'm going to speak about the special partnership we have with the Holy Spirit, that enables us to deal thoroughly with the unease of our hearts.  The Psalmest had the right idea when he spoke to his heart and instructed it to hope in God and wait expectantly for Him.  If you find yourself in a position where your heart is burdened or troubled, I want to remind you that in God, there is ALWAYS hope.  Don't give in to that feeling of hopeless defeat dear friend, turn your eyes on Him and wait expectantly for Him.  Even if it feels as if there is nothing to be hopeful about, you can trust in Him.  As that truth alone sinks into your spirit, you will begin to feel a new song of praise rise up inside.  That's the perfect start for the recovery of your heart.

Much love,

Jenny


Sunday, July 2, 2017

Light in the Darkness


Hello Everyone,

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the circumstances or issues of life happening around you?  I remember being in the middle of some pretty difficult times, longing for the days when that fog of uncertainty would lift and no longer linger over me.  Jesus spoke about us living in times where nothing seems normal or stable, where the world around us is flung into chaos and disarray.    So if you are experiencing some tough times, or you know of someone you care about, who is, today's letter is purposed to shine some light in your darkness and encourage you.  

First of all, let's just get something out of the way here.  I call it the 'Why me? syndrome'.  Do you remember reading in the Psalms, where David battled to come to terms with the fact that while he was doing everything he knew to be right, he still faced horrid circumstances and was constantly looking over his shoulder for those who were pursuing his life?  You can just hear him cry out, "Why me Lord?!".   If you have ever been tempted to join David's pity party, you are not alone.  But I must remind you, Jesus Himself said, we are living in a cursed world and we do have an enemy who seeks to kill, steal and destroy all God is and has done in our lives.  HOWEVER, remember what Jesus tells us in John 16:33.  He warns us to not be alarmed by the things that bring distress and frustration.  Instead, we are to take courage; be confident, certain, and undaunted! (Amplified version).  Do you know why?  Because, in spite of all that uncertainty and instability we may be facing, God has promised that He will personally establish, securely ground, strengthen and settle us! (1 Peter 5:10).

Wow!  Those are some powerful promises right there for us to meditate on, especially when we walk through those dark times and we feel we're on the brink of being overcome by the pressures and stress of life.  I want to show you a simple, yet profound truth that has been a light and life line to me whenever the darkness threatens to suffocate and snuff out my peace and joy.

Take a look at John 1:4-5, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]."

When I was in primary school, I remember going on a field trip to the planetarium.  I had never visited a planetarium before, and when they began the presentation in the pitch darkness, with no one permitted to make a sound, it was simply overwhelming for me.  The darkness was so intense I couldn't even see my lifted in front of my face.  It actually felt like it was pressing against me, to the point of battling to breathe.   But then, suddenly, the sky above me lit up with the light of little star.  That star caught the attention of everyone in that place, it shone so brilliantly, the darkness that seemed so overpowering only a moment before, was completely insignificant in comparison.  I remember thinking it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  

When Jesus says He is the light of the world that shines on in the darkness, do you realise He isn't speaking of an outside force of light and life we must search for?  No, He is referring to being the light that shines from the inside of us.  Even when we are at our weakest, and we feel there is little hope to hold on to, His light is still shining on the inside of us, from our spirits, where His Spirit lives!  And just as that oppressive darkness in the planetarium was no match for that little star, that light inside of us, will never be overpowered or absorbed by the darkness around us.  In fact, wherever we go, and whatever we encounter, no matter how overbearing it seems in comparison, the darkness has no option but to yield to that light inside of us.    


Much love,

Jenny