Grace Energy Jan. 31

The Lord said:

       

        "One aspect of personhood runs deeper than pain or pleasure. It expresses itself as a longing after the things of God. This is part of being made in God’s image. You must work with conscious effort to recognize and cultivate this longing. It vibrates deeply within and swells up from within. Pray, meditate, study My words, speak to Me as a friend; do whatever it takes to nurture the yearning. For it is at this point that the Holy Spirit can mesh with your spirit. The longing quality becomes a true motivator for the kingdom of heaven advancement. Yearning for Me shows the authentic life-flow of Grace."       

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, that your Grace covers us one day at a time and can give us energy reserve as well.

Time Principle Jan. 30

And Jesus said:

       

        "People were not made for the Sabbath; the Sabbath was made for people. People were not made for Time, but Time was made for people. Have you not noticed that two special moments cannot run side by side at the same time, but must follow one another in succession? Why? Why is time on this earth linear? This is one of the Father’s secrets. Time as you know it is step by step because in any given moment, any given minute, any given second, any given blink of an eye, I the Son of God, can break through and save since I am Jesus. My creation has strayed. I come to set it back on the right path. One day all will be back to completion and time as you experience will cease. Every moment may count for the kingdom. What does this mean for you? It means do all you can, with any resource you have, with any gift you have, whenever you can, to help the fellowship of God. You must trust that ANY moment you plant a seed will grow into a forest for ME. And remember that planting a seed plants a potential for an actual answer to someone’s prayer."

Prayer: Lord, help me to be the seed-sower you want today.

Unshaken Reality Jan. 29

     And Jesus said:   

        

"The door to Me opens and I readily expose my truths to you. Talk to Me. I am unchanging, permanent reality. Learn love of Me. Think with Me. Know Me. Discuss Me with others. See how I fit life. I am in you. I have told you to love your neighbor as yourself. However, you must act with the right kind of love. If you love with only self-love, you miss the point. Self-love only wants something in return. You need the love I give. It is other-love. You are to love as I have loved you. To love with the Heavenly Father’s love is always other–love, unconditional from God and undeserved by humans."

Prayer: Lord, keep me learning the ways of your other-centered love.

True Giving Jan. 28

And Jesus said:

       

        "The highest plane of giving needs you to give yourself away at every point you can: your relationships, your time, your resources, your care. When you learn true spiritual giving and then give, you can pass on any of your resources to those who need them. Even if people do not merit such gifts, give anyway, like the all-giving Heavenly Father. If you just give out of habit or duty, then the kingdom is not enhanced. It may be a worthy practice, but true giving always has a piece of you in it."

Prayer: Lord, help me give in ways that further your kingdom path.

Prayer to See Jan. 27

Holy Spirit said:

       

        "Pray to see the graciousness of the Trinity in One, who sustains a different beauty than just earthly beauty. A peculiar attractiveness comes when you connect with Me. Your awe and wonder will be enhanced. Pray to absorb the beauty. Pray to have faith in My love through any dealings with others. The world will confuse and distort My creation, so you must see with different eyes. Look not only at the harshness of this world, but with the eyes of faith, search for the Spirit that dwells in you, the beauty and harmony of the Godhead."

Prayer: Oh Lord, I do indeed want to see the special beauty you have provided.

Cooperative Plan Jan. 24

      And Jesus said:  

        

"Begin each day knowing you are not alone. Practice My presence in the great or small. Expect Me to be there. I AM. Put Me in small experiences as a reminder of My presence. Walk with Me as an invisible friend. Place Me in an empty chair in the room. Let Me sit beside you when you pay bills.  Ask often: Am I there? Am I in that situation?  Make Me become tangible in the seeming intangible. I am not the rock, the tree, the wind, or the water. But I am the Creator of those and am behind all of them. Watch closely how I relate to them and how I relate to you."

Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see your presence today and respond accordingly.

Obedience Jan.21

Jesus reminded:

     

"Look at all your relationships. Every day take Me, the Christ, with you in dealing with them. Whether you consider church, a family member, a business or school colleague, a neighbor, or even unknown persons in a foreign land, stay conscious I am with you. Avoid plans you have made without divine thought. Re-do any planning if necessary so that you and I may work together. Choose to give tangible evidence to all people, by letting them know something happens to you when you walk with Me."

Prayer: Lord, I know you want the best for us. Forgive us when we use our stubborn will and refuse to obey your gracious will already in place.

Personality Jan. 19

HOLY SPIRIT reminded:

        

"Remember, because you are made in the image of God, nothing in the world is more precious than human character. Art is not greater. Money is not greater. Great literature can never rise above human personality. I present you with the highest element for the highest revelation. I, your Lord, come that you might have life. If you want to leave a true legacy, leave behind a clear imprint of a value-living, Christ-centered character."

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me what’s important and let me leave behind a God-inspired life.

True Freedom Jan. 17

Holy Spirit said:

        "When the Father created the first human, He limited himself and allowed a seed of his free will to enter the dirt that became Adam. The true-life essence of every person contains this basic freedom: to choose its own way. The Father knew allowing free will into humanity was a costly risk. It is not unlike when people decide to birth a child; they are never totally certain what their child will be. Of course, the Father knew and took the risk, birthed Adam and Eve and sure enough, His heart was broken. Nothing but a special love could have done this. The act demonstrates a point of relationship I have with you. We bridge together the joys and heartaches to become one. The choice stays yours."      

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for caring so deeply for us when we do not deserve your gracious love.

Another Mystery Jan. 16

And Jesus reminded:

        "I show you a mystery. Because every human is made in the image of God, this image is the entryway for the kingdom of the Father. I revealed this to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21, but they didn’t accept it. Not everyone does. My kingdom is available to everyone, but everyone is not yet in the kingdom. Those not in the kingdom are frustrated because they go against My guidelines. When I said I am the Way, the Truth, the Light, the Door, I was referring to the full entryway into the kingdom. While the kingdom is available to everyone, each must choose to enter by Me. You are to help others enter through Me and help people recognize the kingdom principles."

Prayer: Lord, thank you for entering our hearts and giving us your words to see.  [Author’s note: Read also Heb. 8:10-11, Rom.14:17-18].

Planning Jan. 15

And the Spirit said:

       "You do not need to over plan. Trust in the immediacy and even the random work of the Holy Spirit. I am the Lord of your life. The Father has created a moral universe. Every guide, law, principle is in place. You do not have to create the laws to live well in the universe. Simply discover them, like gravity, a moral law, promoting balance. Behave as I have instructed you and let Me plan for your harmony in the present and future. I am your protector and will grow your moral intelligence. What evil persons, those out of harmony, may do to you, I can shield or undo. Endeavor to think of Me throughout the day. I am always here."

Prayer: Lord, keep us aware of the moral, heavenly laws behind every one of your laws on earth.

Thankfulness Jan. 12

Holy Spirit reminded:

        

"When negative obstacles come into your everyday life, and they often do, use praise to counteract them. When I, the Lord, said you could remove mountains with the right faith, one sure method for this is to offer praise and honor. Remember to say “thank you” for the blessings you already have. Praise attitude allows room for the Holy Spirit to promote the generous heart of the Father."

Prayer: Lord, help me to continue an attitude of praise, even when I do not feel the emotion. Thank you.

Anger Jan. 11

And Jesus said:

        

"I, the Lord, do not get angry with you like you know anger. I have a kind of disappointment in your behavior, but the anger you know is nothing more than hostile fear, a negative human emotion. In your soul, when fear gets tired, it turns hostile, turning first outward, and then reversing to turn inward. Anger in you fights against the peace I’ve given. That is why I said in 1 John that perfect love casts out fear. Accept My Love and trade your weaker emotion of anger for the better emotion of strong peace. Much more energy and power live in peace than in fear. Remember, faith in Me stands opposite fear."

Prayer: Oh Lord, renew in us today your shield of faith because anger creeps in so secretly we often miss it.

Action Jan. 10

Holy Spirit said:

        

"You ask: 'How am I to live each day to grow the kingdom of the Father?'  You do not have to look very far.  Meet some need of your neighbor. Any person might become your neighbor. Any act laced with kindness, mercy, helpfulness, good cheer, polite participation or caring response can be a testimony of My goodness in the world.  Meet any worldly pain with those ingredients. The challenges help chisel and mold your own character for the kingdom of the Father."

Prayer: Lord, help me pay attention to one specific opportunity I meet today to complete a Christ-like action.

Method Jan. 9

Jesus said:

       

"When you feel as if I am questioning or criticizing you, know I am not always inquiring about your values or motivation. Look to the circumstance as well. I may be urging you stop to think about your method. Your agitation may be because you have not first rested in Me to hear the method or strategy of heavenly Father.  Remember Isaiah 30:15, “In repentance and rest is your salvation...”  Let not your heart be too troubled. As you trust in the Father, trust in the Holy Spirit to teach you."

Prayer: Lord, help me remain teachable in all things.

Small Prayers Jan. 8

God said:

        "Wait not for the large issues of life before you pray. Pray for what seems small. Pray for those who need traveling mercies, who need to sell a house, who need guidance in school, who have changes in their jobs, who got a speeding ticket, who just need to praise more. Nothing is too small because I, your Lord, am interested in all life events. They are opportunities for My kingdom principles to grow in someone. You may not know who, but your prayer can hold like a well-placed concrete column, holding up part of the bridge. All things DO work together."

Prayer: Oh Lord, keep me strong to remain a standing bridge for the kingdom.    

Waiting Jan. 7

Holy Spirit reminded:

  "You do not serve a reluctant Father who holds back from his child because he’s not sure you deserve something you have asked for. Delay may happen because you are all connected.  Remember impatiently waiting on an airplane to arrive at a terminal? You were delayed because others on a different flight schedule needed the resources of the airline.  Eventually, all the connected travelers that day reached their destination. The Father has everything worked together on His schedule, and since He is outside of your earthly time, you may feel impatient and inconvenienced.  That’s the time to pay attention.  When you must wait, stop and reflect upon heavenly principles, then look for any divine connections. Also, as you wait, talk to Me."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I earnestly want to stay on the right plane with you.

Maturity Jan. 5

Holy Spirit said:

        "You may grow in a human, natural way and that shows essential maturity. However, you mature in a different way by the genuine responses to the Father’s Grace. Your greatest growth comes when you respond to divine grace that distributes faith liberally.  This faith helps you become a channel for other works of grace coming from the Father. His grace is so full, if you had started something important and you died before you could finish it, He would give you full credit as if you had. Grace allows the seed and the soil to count as much as a flower."

Prayer: Lord, help me in seed planting for you every chance I get.

Potential Jan. 4

Holy Spirit said:

        "Much pride breeds arrogance. Arrogance breeds self-centered actions. Self-centered behavior breeds loneliness. Loneliness breeds misery. This perpetual downward cycle is based upon a concept that the most important potential of a human comes from the individual self alone.  This is too limiting, and it ends in unhappiness. Instead, look to Me, your Savior. My potential is infinitely greater than any human self."

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the plus potential of the Holy Spirit.

Future Jan. 3

Holy Spirit reminded:

       "Worrying about the future tends to invalidate faith. Instead, look to everyday as an adventure with Me. I can send good surprises. As a believer and seeker, pay close attention to My words. Avoid the nagging temptation of doubt and be assured I Am with you now as your partner.  Know Me and fellowship with Me to see the present in its fullness. Each day, one at a time, matters. Each day can bring new opportunity for advancement.

Prayer: Lord, help me feel the newness of the day and know you are there.

True Forgiveness Jan. 2

Jesus reminds:

        "Because the Father forgives you, you must learn to forgive. I do not ask you to forgive another’s behavior. You can never do this because the self gets in the way. This is why I say, 'Crucify the self daily.' When you start to dwell upon the hurts others have caused you, pride steps in. You will feel injustice and become angry and too critical. This will not allow forgiveness. So, I ask you to die to the self, full of false pride, and replace it with Me. Forgive the essence of others. Forgive them for not knowing what they do. Forgive because I am forgiveness. Let Me judge the behavior. Your task is to love their potential."

Prayer: Lord, help me to begin this New Year with the kind of forgiving attitude that most honors you.