Sunday, November 14, 2010

He Says I'm Beautiful


My entire life I have put my trust in man, I have found significance in people, I have easily turned to the counsel of man before turning to that of my Heavenly Father, and I have let the way people treat me dictate how I feel.
Why do I continually do so when My Heavenly Father thinks so highly of me not because of what I've done, what I've failed to do, what I look like, or anything else but because of who He is and what He has done.
Oh the deep, deep love of Jesus!
.

Those who put their trust in mere men will be disappointed in life. Those who turn to people for strength rather than to Me will not find what they are truly seeking.
They are like shrubs that live in the desert with absolutely no means to survive and no hope to continue living. But those that put their trust in and find their significance in Me, the only One Who will never disappoint, will only be blessed beyond measure. They will have true confidence and hope as they walk throughout their days. Joy will be theirs’ and nothing will be able to take that from them.
They will be like trees that are found on the bank of a river with deep roots and a continual wellspring of rich water. Heat never bothers them and months of drought have no effect on their condition.
Think of such a life! It can be yours if you simply trust Me.

Man will disappoint you. It’s a fact of life. But this is what I say: You are so beautiful, oh daughter of Mine… Do you know how often I think about you? You could never count the times in a day that my mind is fixed on you. If you tried, it would be the same as trying to count every single grain of sand found on the face of this earth. That is how special you are to Me. You truly are precious.
Did you know that even before your parents thought of a name for you, I had already called you: “My Beloved One”. I love you dearly. Keep your mind fixed on these truths for, unlike man's, My opinion of you will never change.

[Jeremiah 17:5-8; Isaiah 43:4; Psalm 139:17; Isaiah 60:9]

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Come Close To Me


It's amazing how the circumstances of our lives can dictate our moods, our feelings, and our decisions. Sometimes in our difficult situations, we run closer to His presence, depending more on Him, and other times we feel so discouraged that we forget to bring our troubles to Him and keep trying in our own strengths.

This is what He has been saying to me lately about Coming Closer to Him during the trial He has been leading me through for the past few weeks:


You can live as close to Me as you choose. I don't set up barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.
People tend to think that their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. That is why they pour all their energy into trying to control all situations. They feel happy when things are going well [their way], and depressed or frustrated when things aren't turning out as they had hoped. Rarely do they question this correlation between their circumstances and their feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation. It's up to them! All they have to do is Trust Me.
So put more of your energy into trusting Me and My love. Enjoy My presence in your life! Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances around you. Instead, connect your joy to my promises found in Scripture:
I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.
I will meet every single one of your needs according to My abundant riches.
Nothing in all of creation will ever be able to separate you from My Love... Nothing!

I am working My ways in you: the divine Artist creating loveliness within your being. My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making more room for My Spirit to take complete possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away - for a time or permanently. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that, abundantly.
Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Presence alone. This entails being completely satisfied with much or little, accepting either as My will for the moment. Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every single situation.

[Philippians 4:12; Genesis 28:15; Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:38-39; Psalm 29:2]