SORROW

The darkness that has enveloped your nation and many nations has caused much sorrow.  Many are still grieving over those loved ones who died in the past three years of the virus that attacked not only your nation, but the world.

Isaiah spoke about Me years before I was crucified. He said that I was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.  When I was crucified on the tree in Jerusalem, I bore your sorrows.

Of course, you will grieve for a  time after the loss of a loved one, but if you will ask My Spirit to help you, He will be able to turn your sorrow into mourning and then your mourning into dancing.

ISAIAH 53:3-4

COMPARE

Paul wrote that it is not wise to compare yourselves to others.  I know how you look at the lives of other Christians who truly have physically laid their lives down in order to share the gospel with those who are not saved.

I want you to know that I do not compare your life with the life of anyone else.  I love you uniquely and I created you to glorify Me in ways that others are not able.  You glorify Me whenever you make My presence known to others.

Just being kind and loving to those you do not even know is a way of glorifying Me.  I have given you special gifts that you can use to glorify Me.  Be content that I have chosen to put My very Spirit within you so that you can express My glory in unique ways.

2 CORINTHIANS 10:12

VALUE

Do you recognize how valuable you are to Me? When you know how much I value you, there will be no reason for you to ever be afraid. I know even the number of hairs on your head.

I was talking to My disciples when I told them that the only One to fear was the One Who had the power to not just kill the body, but also the power to cast into hell.  I was speaking of My Father.

When you truly fear Me, you will stand in awe of the power I have, and you will want to obey My Word simply because you love Me.  Perfect love casts out all fear.  I am the only One in heaven and earth Who loves you perfectly.  Never forget that I valued you enough to save you through My blood shed for you.

LUKE 12:4-7

HASTE

My beloved David often asked Me to make haste to hear his prayer.  It is human nature for you to want to see the answers to your prayers instantly.

You live in an instant culture where so many things are instant.  Most people in your day have lost the art of waiting upon Me.  They become impatient to see the results or fruit of their prayers. They even become anxious.

Paul wrote: "Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."  Remember to thank Me for hearing and answering you the moment you make your requests known to Me.  When you do this, you will not be anxious because you trust Me to send the answer in My time, not yours.

PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

BELOVED

I trust that you know you are loved.  You are My beloved and I accept you.  So many in this world do not know this. This is the message I came to reveal when I walked on Earth.

I came to reveal My Father's love to mankind.  Most people know the verse of Scripture in John 3:16 which says My Father so loved the world that He gave Me (sent Me into the world) so that the world through Me might be saved.

This is the gospel.  It is only through Me that a person can know My Father.  You live in a fatherless generation that feel abandoned.  I want you to care enough to share the good news that I came to rescue them from abandonment and that My Father wants to adopt them into His family.  Tell them.

JOHN 3:16

TESTIMONY

When I give you the opportunity to see a life that has been changed after a person accepts Me as their LORD and Savior, you cannot help but stand in awe of the power of My Holy Spirit to conform someone to My image.

People can argue Scriptures when you present the gospel, but when you give your own testimony about how you have changed since you committed your life to Me, they cannot argue when they see the change.

I want you to boldly declare your testimony to others.  Your testimony will give people hope that they also can change.  You are still in process, but you do have much to share when you give your testimony.

MATTHEW 8:4

FRIENDS

I know what joy it gives you to have friends in your life who you have known more than half of a century.  You treasure those friendships, and love looking at the pictures of the wonderful fellowship you had with them in the past.

There was a time when I told My disciples that they were My friends.  I said, "Henceforth, I call you not servants: for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you."

I am your friend also and one day you will be with Me for all eternity.  Until that time, do not miss one day without having our sweet times conversing together. I will tell you many things as you read My Word.

JOHN 15:15

APPOINTMENTS

Most everyone has appointments they need to keep during a week's time.  There is one appointment that everyone will have in common.  The appointment is the day they will die.

The writer of Hebrews wrote: "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27)."

The day you were born and the day you will die is written in your Book of Life.  When you pray for yourself and others, pray that you will make this appointment on time (not a day early or a day late).

HEBREWS 9:27

SWEETSMELLING

Just before I was crucified, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointed My head with an ointment that had a sweet smelling fragrance. Those around said that she was wasting costly ointment and should have given it to the poor. I told them that she was preparing Me for My burial.

They did not understand. Mary had seen her brother raised from the dead after he had been dead for four days. She believed My Words when I told her that I am the resurrection, and the life; He who believes in Me, though he were dead yet shall he live.

I am the resurrection and the life.  Believe in Me and you will never see death.  Yes, your body will die, but your spirit and soul will immediately be with Me when you take your last breath.

JOHN 11:25; 

BITTER

The writer of Hebrews gave good instructions on how to live a life that is full of grace.  The writer said: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without this no man shall see the LORD: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; (Hebrews 12:14-15).

Those who do not seek peace and pursue it, will often become bitter because they will encounter much strife in relationships.  When someone has a spirit of jealousy, that person will usually be very critical, negative, and never satisfied.

I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly.  Only I can offer to anyone the peace that passes all understanding.  Seek My peace, and you will enter great satisfaction and joy in life.

HEBREWS 12:14-15; PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7

ABOVE

I am above all principalities and powers.  When John, My cousin, spoke of Me, he said: He who comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: He who comes from heaven is above all (John 3:31)."

When you believe in your heart that I am above all things both in heaven and in earth, you will be able to trust Me daily to help you no matter what your circumstances are. 

My invitation to you daily is to ask, seek, and knock.  When you ask Me to help you, I will.  When you seek to draw near Me, I will draw near to you.  When you knock, I will open doors for you because I hold the key of David.  I open the doors that no man can shut and I shut the doors that no man can open..

JOHN 3:31; REVELATION 3:7

WEAK

There were many times that I was very weak when I walked on Earth.  Sometimes I felt like I could not take another step.  However, I knew My Father had assignments for Me to fulfill that day.

On those days, I had to come away and be alone.  It was at those alone times with My Father, that I was strengthened to go on.

I want you to do what I did.  Whenever you feel week either physically or emotionally, have an alone time with Me.  My joy will strengthen you. Watch and pray.  The spirit truly is willing, but the flesh is weak.

MARK 14:38 

MEASURE

I exhorted people to be givers.  I taught them that as they give, it shall be given to  them, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give to them.  For with the same measure that they give, it shall be measured to them again.

The measure you will receive when you give with a loving heart may not be monetary, but you will always receive immeasurable joy.

Be aware of the needs of people around you.  I know you cannot give to everyone to help them with their needs, but ask My Holy Spirit in the morning to lead you to someone you can give to that day,  You can always give My love to someone and this will cost you nothing but a little time.

LUKE 6:38; 

IGNORANT

It was My power within Peter and John that enabled them to heal the lame man by the Gate Beautiful.  When Peter and John were questioned by the high priest and others, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"  

Peter, filled by My Spirit began to speak and shared that it was in My name that he and John were able to heal this man.  

Those who questioned Peter and John were impressed by Peter's words because he spoke with boldness and clarity.  They were shocked because they knew that Peter and John were what they considered ignorant men.  My Spirit can give such boldness and wisdom to you whenever you are in a position to witness to others. Just surrender to My Spirit and He will work through you also.

ACTS 4:13 

ENGRAFTED

I went about preaching the kingdom of God, but I also taught wherever I went.  Hearing preaching and teaching of My Word are two of the main ways that you can receive strength. 

Whenever you hear My Word through teaching, pray that My Holy Spirit will open up your ears to hear not only with your physical ears, but also with your spiritual ears.  I want you to receive the engrafting of My Word into your heart.

James wrote: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls." There is so much the world offers that you can listen to in a day's time.  Make it your goal this week to listen to My Word daily and thereby be strengthened. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

JAMES 1:21; ROMANS 10:17

DESPAIR

My servant Paul went through one trial after another.  In fact, he gave a list of these trials in his letter to the Corinthian Church. 

He said that he and his companions were troubled on every side, yet not distressed, we were perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed:"

There are many people you know personally who are in despair.  Some have family division, others have great financial needs, and many believers are concerned about the darkness that seems to be enveloping our nation.  These are the times that you must cry out to Me. I will always hear your cry and help you.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:8-10; PSALM 61

READ

I challenged the chief priests and the Pharisees when I asked them this question: Did you never read in the scriptures the stone that the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the LORD's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? "

I had shared a parable with them just before I asked this question.  They were supposed to be steeped in the Torah, but they had read the Torah without understanding.

There are many in your culture today who either do not read their Bibles or they do not understand what they read.  Pray that they will have the eyes of their understanding opened.

MATTHEW 12:5