HARDEN

You live in a day when many are falling away from faith in Me.  This is a time when My body on Earth should be exhorting one another to keep the faith.

The writer of Hebrews faced this same problem and wrote the following: "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end (Hebrews 3:12-14)."

I want you to see how important it is to exhort believers to hold on to Me in faith during these very dark days.  You have known the joy of being in My presence, and I want you to exhort others to have quality time with Me daily.

HEBREWS 3:12-14

DEAR

What is dear to you?  Paul wrote this: "But  none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, that I have received of the LORD Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)."

What is dear to you? The word, "dear," in your language means "worthy of great value."  Paul is saying that the most valued thing in his life was to finish the race and complete the ministry that I gave him which was to spread My good news of grace to others.

Is spreading the gospel of great value or even more value to you than your own life.  There are multitudes who have died in order to spread the gospel.  I pray that you consider spreading My gospel to others as worthy of great value.

ACTS 20:24

LEAN

Whenever you lean on your own understanding, it will be impossible to trust in Me. I have given you My Holy Spirit and He can help you understand.

Part of the full anointing of My Spirit is the Spirit of understanding.  He is the One Who can help you understand My Word and also all those things you face daily in your life.

Every morning, call upon My Holy Spirit to help you understand My will for your day.  He will not only give you My understanding, but He will also give you My wisdom for the day.

ISAIAH 11:2

DIVISIONS

Paul warned the churches that he planted to avoid divisions.  I told those who called Me the devil that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

You are living in a day when My enemy is trying to divide families, countries, and churches.  It is the spirit of anti-Christ who is dividing.  Satan knows that if families, churches, and nations are of one mind and one spirit that he will not succeed.

I want you to come against the anti-Christ spirit in your nation and curse its fruit of division.  Pray for the remnant of believers to be of one mind and one Spirit during these dark days.  

1 CORINTHIAN'S 1:10; 2 JOHN 1:7

LADEN

I never want you to be laden down with cares.  I have given you the invitation to always come to Me when you are overwhelmed with cares.

I am your caretaker and I love to take your cares.  When I receive them, My Father and I intercede about those cares.

Always have open hands towards heaven.  Your open hands mean two things to Me.  They indicate that you have released your cares and that now you are ready to receive the answers to your prayers.

MATTHEW 11:28

PLEASANT

It is so pleasant to Me when you sing praises to Me.  I know you want to please Me daily. Sing to Me during the day.

If you want to have a day when the devil does not have a chance to have his way with you, then keep praising Me all the day long.

Praise is the devil's death knell.  Praising Me throughout the day will help you stay filled with My Spirit. Have a pleasant day.

PSALM 135:3

INCREASE

You are entering a great harvest time of souls, and I want you to understand that I am the One who gives the increase. Some will plant seed and others will water the seed that was planted, but I am the One Who will give the increase.

As you begin to plant seed, pray over the seed.  Pray for My anointing over the seed.  Pray for My Spirit to lead the planters to those for whom I have prepared their hearts.

Pray that all the planters will hear the voice of My Holy Spirit and be led by My Spirit to the places where the seed will take root.  I have instructed you to pray for rain when the latter rain has come.  Do this, and you will see a great harvest.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:7; ZECHARIAH 10:1

BITTERNESS

You must always be careful not to allow the sun to go down on your anger.  If you do allow this, two things will happen. You will become bitter and you will become depressed.  Depression is unresolved anger.

The moment you feel anger or resentment, give your anger to Me.  Repent of this and ask Me to replace your anger with My peace.  The writer of Hebrews gave the following exhortation:

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which 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)

EPHESIANS 4:26; HEBREWS 12:14-15

LIFT

These are days of great darkness, but there is a way that you can have My light to shine in your souls. I want you to always remember that I have caused My light to shine into your hearts to give you the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in My face.

You do not have to grope in darkness during these days because you contain Me, the light of the world, in your earthen vessel.

My servant David had many dark days, but he learned to LIFT up his soul (mind, emotions, and will) to Me.  When he did this, My light lightened all heaviness away from him and he was LIFTED out of despair.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:6-7; PSALM 25:1

DAYS

Moses exhorted us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  You do not know how many days you have left on Earth. However, the date of your birth and the date of your death are written in your Book of Life.

I want you to have great peace that I do know when you will be with Me for all eternity.  Until that time I do want you to apply your heart to wisdom.

I am all wisdom and I can give you all the wisdom you need as you come to the end of your race on Earth. All you have to do is ask Me to give you wisdom and I am always delighted to give it to you.

PSALM 90:12; JAMES 1:5

PERSONAL

I taught My disciples to never take what others said about them personally.  I know that your mother gave you this same counsel, and it has helped you throughout your life.

I told My disciples that people in the world would hate them because they were not of the world. I told them that I chose them out of the world and that is why people in the world hate them.

You must always remember that you are not fighting flesh and blood, but you are fighting, principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Recognize that those who accuse you or despitefully use you are under the control of the devil. They hate you because you love Me.

JOHN 15:18-19; EPHESIANS 6:12 

TRY

The day will come when every believer's work shall be revealed. Fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide and survive the fire, that man shall receive a reward. The believer whose works are burned will suffer loss, but that believer will still be saved.

Only the works that I have done through you by the Holy Spirit will not be burned.  So many are doing works to earn My approval.  On that day when works are tried, the motivations behind those works will also be revealed.

I can work through you to not only give you the will to do My works, but also the power and anointing to do them.  However, this will only happen when you daily submit to Me and are led by My Spirit.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:13-15; PHILIPPIANS 2:13

DARKNESS

There was a time when you walked in darkness.  I was with you when you were in that dark place in your mother's womb. But even before that time I was the light who was manifested when you were conceived.

I am the light of the world who lights every man who comes into the world.  When you were conceived, I put My Spirit within you. Sadly, because sin entered the world, the darkness of sin is present in every child also. 

When you were birthed and even in your early childhood, you wanted to have your own way.  When you grew older you chose to walk in the light I had given you instead of walking in the darkness of sin.  You were born again and My Holy Spirit touched your spirit and My light within you won over the darkness.  You can now walk as a child of light. REJOICE!!

JOHN 1:9; EPHESIANS 5:8

BENEFITS

I want you often to review the benefits you have received since you believed in and trusted Me. Psalm 103 lists these benefits. It is My joy to give you the following benefits:

Forgiveness - I forgive all your iniquities.                                                                                                  Healing - I heal all your diseases.                                                                                                        Redemption - I redeem your life from destruction.                                                                          Provision -- I take care of all your needs.                                                                                  Lovingkindness - I shower you with lovingkindness and mercy

Review these benefits, and you will be lifted up above whatever difficulties you are experiencing today.

PSALM 103

                                                                                     

CARETH

I want you always to have the assurance that I care for you and that I know you intimately.  Truly, I am your good Shepherd Who provides, protects, leads and guides you throughout your life.

Peter told how you and all believers can humble themselves before Me.  He said: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

I rejoice every time you release all your cares to Me.  I am not only your care-giver, but I am also your care-taker.  Daily bring every care to Me because when you do, I can better take care of you.

1 PETER 5:6-7

EXCEEDING

My friend and servant Paul shared the afflictions that He endured because He was faithful to preach My good news (the gospel) with both the Gentiles and My brethren (the Jews).

He considered what he had endured light affliction.  However, we would consider the affliction he endured to be horrific.    

How could he say that what he endured was light affliction? Paul kept his eyes on what he could not see. He considered that the light affliction he experienced worked for him a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  I want you to do the same.  Keep your eyes on what is eternal, not temporal.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:17-18

HONOR

The only commandment declared to Israel that had a promise was: Honor your mother and father so your days will be long on the earth and so that things will go well with you.

You live in an age of lawlessness when children are disobedient to parents.  Pray for parents who are not spending the time they need with their children.  Many have forgotten their priorities.  The goal in life for parents is not making an abundance of money to support their children.

The goal in life is to seek the kingdom of God first and My righteousness, and then all these things will be added to them.  I will take care of every need in the family if parents will seek Me first and train their children in My ways of righteousness.

DUETERONOMY 5:16; MATTHEW 6:33-34

PAINS

Most people do not look forward to dying.  They know that often dying involves pain and suffering which can be physical or emotional. On this coming Resurrection Day, I want you to remember one of the main reasons I was resurrected.

My Holy Father raised Me up by the power of the Holy Spirit to loose the pains of death.  On that day I conquered the sting of death for you.

Those who call Me Lord and believe that I died, was buried, was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven are loosed from the pains of death.  When you know that you also will be resurrected to live with Me forever, you can face death without dread or fear.

ACTS 2:24; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:56