Author: Renee Faul

October 02

“Did God really Say?”

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BUT YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, FOR WHEN YOU EAT OF IT YOU WILL SURELY DIE
(Genesis 2:17).

Notice that God’s Counsel is clear…straightforward…uncomplicated.

NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE CRAFTY THAN ANY OF THE WILD ANIMALS THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. HE SAID TO THE WOMAN, ‘DID GOD REALLY SAY, ‘YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN?’
(Genesis 3:1).

Take notice of how Satan attacked God’s Word.  He proposed, “Did God really say?”

I bless you to look out for these words of doubt from the father-of-lies: “Did God really say?”  Understand that the words of the father-of-lies are cunning and subtle.  His goal is to distract from the Truth.  His aim is to confuse God’s clear and uncomplicated Word.  His plan is to separate you from God’s Counsel of Love, Light, and Life. His weapon is deception—the practice of luring you into accusatory beliefs that are not true.

When the crafty one fills your mind with his spiritual pictures and words of fear, hopelessness, and unworthiness, turn these deceiving pictures and oppressing words over to God, and ask Him to tell you the Truth. Then, you can answer the father-of-lies with the very words of the Lord Jesus Himself:

MAN DOES NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD
 (Matthew 4:4).

With which accusatory beliefs has the father-of-lies been distracting you from the Truth?

What effect have these negative, destructive beliefs had on your life, so far?

What are you going to do about this?

PRAYER: Majesty, let me live by Your Truth. Let me recognize the father-of-lies’ spiritual pictures and words of doubt that bring confusion, fear, and despair to my mind and heart. Speak to me, Lord. Remind me, during times like these, to acknowledge You in all my thoughts and beliefs and to live from every Word that comes from Your mouth.

Maintain an Awareness

Sin is not something mysterious…something unexplainable…something that happens to you. Sin does not stand alone. It does not happen by itself. Sinful solutions have a source—the source of the OLD MAN.

The Two Counsels

Beliefs/Emotions associated with this blessing.
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Confused Fearful Hopeless

October 01

Treat the Person, NOT the Problem

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Carl Rogers wrote in his book, Becoming a Person: “I have found it of enormous value when I can permit myself to understand the other person. The way in which I have worded this statement may seem strange to you. Is it necessary to permit oneself to understand another? I think it is. Our first reaction to most of the statements which we hear from other people is an evaluation or judgment, rather than an understanding of it. When someone expresses some feeling, attitude or belief, our tendency is almost immediately to feel “that’s right,” or “that’s stupid,” “that’s abnormal,” “that’s unreasonable,” “that’s incorrect,” “that’s not nice.” Very rarely do we permit ourselves to understand precisely what the meaning of the statement is to the other person.”

This has become one of the most important tools of communication in my relationships: permitting myself to understand someone’s heart, instead of reacting to my own conclusions, instantly. Keeping my own interpretations out of the equation when I have a conversation with another person, I have learned to separate the facts (what really happened) from the conclusions (the person’s heart) and treat them as two separate transactions. What really happened? How does she feel about the incident? Why does she feel that way? What is the negative spiritual picture the father-of-lies painted in her mind? How can I help her to understand her own heart and see the Truth? Unless you care about someone’s heart, first, you will not be able to help her see the facts of the situation. Therefore, treat the PERSON, not the PROBLEM!

IF I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND CAN FATHOM ALL MYSTERIES AND ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE A FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING
(1 Corinthians 13:2).

I love to apply this principle of separating the facts from the conclusions to my own heart, as well. What really happened? How do I feel about the incident? Why do I feel that way? Where is the root of my problem? What is the negative spiritual picture the father-of-lies painted in my mind? How can I receive Truth in my heart, so I may see the facts clearly? But, there are times when I am not able to understand, no matter how many questions I ask myself or anybody else. During these times, I go to the One who has infinite Understanding, the One who is able to separate the facts from the conclusions, the One who always cares about my heart.

GREAT IS OUR LORD, AND OF GREAT POWER: HIS UNDERSTANDING IS INFINITE
(Psalm 147:5).

Think back of a specific conversation you had with someone this past week. How might the outcome of the conversation have changed IF you had permitted yourself to UNDERSTAND your conversation partner’s heart, instead of reacting to your own conclusions, instantly? What would it take for you to become willing to separate the facts from the conclusions and UNDERSTAND others during your conversations, instead of using criticism, control, or complaint as your defense mechanisms, before you even know what is going on?

PRAYER: Most High, deposit Your Love in my heart, so I may permit myself to understand others and myself, instead of only reacting to the facts at face value.

Maintain an Awareness

Temptations are all about WORDS…and what we DO with these WORDS.

The Two Counsels
September 30

Are You Looking for You?

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I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN YOU; I WILL REMOVE FROM YOU YOUR HEART OF STONE AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH
(Ezekiel 36:26).

Are you looking for you?  Are you trying to find the person you were always meant to be?  Are you wondering who really lives in your heart? Then, you need to find out who you are when you are not being the person the father-of-lies made you to be: a Deprived Me, a Deserted Me, a Defiled Me, or a Defeated Me.

The goal of the father-of-lies is to fill us with systems of beliefs, so we would fill ourselves with other systems of beliefs to correct the first systems of beliefs. He instills in us a Deprived Me; we fill ourselves with Self-Pity. He forms in us a Defiled Me; we fill ourselves with Self-Defense. He plants in us a Defeated Me; we fill ourselves with Self-Righteousness. He puts in us a Deserted Me; we fill ourselves with Self-Dependence. We take our broken lives into our own hands and install a system of beliefs in our beings to fix ourselves, in order to be big, bold, and beautiful. But, no matter how much we strive to build a system of quality inside ourselves, we never achieve it. In the end, we do not know who we are. We become confused.

God is calling you to a new Self—a REDEEMED ME. When you are ready to stop relying on your Self-pity, your Self-Defense, your Self-Righteousness, and your Self-Dependence, He will strip you off the Deprived Me, Deserted Me, Defiled Me, and Defeated Me. As the wrong beliefs about yourself start coming down, the scales will fall from your eyes…and you will see the person you were always meant to be. Your heart of stone will turn into a heart of flesh. You will be free to be ME, confident with your own special, unique personality.

O LORD, YOU HAVE SEARCHED ME AND KNOWN ME. YOU KNOW MY SITTING DOWN AND MY RISING UP; YOU UNDERSTAND MY THOUGHT AFAR OFF. YOU COMPREHEND MY PATH AND MY LYING DOWN, AND ARE ACQUAINTED WITH ALL MY WAYS. FOR THERE IS NOT A WORD ON MY TONGUE, BUT BEHOLD, O LORD, YOU KNOW IT ALTOGETHER
(Psalm 139:1-4).

Know that you have a choice: to keep trying to fight these systems of beliefs with different systems of beliefs…or to come to the Person who can redeem you from all of them.

PRAYER: Most High, redeem me from these systems of beliefs, so I may only be me—the REDEEMED ME.

Maintain an Awareness

Obedient surrender consists of three steps: EMBRACING, EXPOSING, and giving permission to be EXCHANGED.

The Two Counsels

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Confused

September 29

A Soft Heart of Flesh

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I have noticed that I need to be very diligent to keep my heart soft…tender…sensitive. Often, when the father-of-lies shares his oppressing lies with me, I fall into the temptation to harden my heart.  I do this to protect my heart from injury. I rely on bitterness to shield my heart from more harm. I count on depression to cover me like a blanket. I lean on vows to keep me away from danger. However, as soon as my heart starts hardening, God’s Voice of Truth, Hope, and Love becomes too soft to hear, and my heart becomes filled with destruction.

THE MAGICIANS SAID TO PHARAOH, ‘THIS IS THE FINGER OF GOD.’ BUT PHARAOH’S HEART WAS HARD AND HE WOULD NOT LISTEN, JUST AS THE LORD HAD SAID
(Exodus 8:19).

Know that it is the father-of-lies’ goal to harden your heart with his negative, destructive beliefs of abandonment, shame, condemnation, and rejection.  A hardened heart is filled with resentment.  It is infused with hatred.  It is injected with pride. It refuses to forgive. But, a hardened heart does not serve God. It does not walk in the Truth. Instead, it is filled with Self-Defense.

TEACH ME YOUR WAY, O LORD, AND I WILL WALK IN YOUR TRUTH; GIVE ME AN UNDIVIDED HEART, THAT I MAY FEAR YOUR NAME
(Psalm 86:11).

I bless you to keep your heart soft…open…receptive.  Do not allow the lies from the father-of-lies to grow a hard defense in your heart.  This defense is counterfeit.  It does not shield you from injury and destruction. Instead, it only serves as a barrier to block God’s Love, Hope, and Truth from your heart, while it destroys you from the inside-out.

Understand that it is God’s Love, Hope, and Truth that provide the real covering for your heart, in order to protect it from injury and destruction. God’s Love fills you with Joy. God’s Hope fills you with Strength. God’s Truth fills you with Wisdom. Do not harden your heart against Him.

I WILL GIVE YOU A NEW HEART AND PUT A NEW SPIRIT IN YOU; I WILL REMOVE FROM YOU YOUR HEART OF STONE AND GIVE YOU A HEART OF FLESH
(Ezekiel 36:26).

Do you have a hardened, defensive heart? Against what are you protecting it? Why?

Are you willing to trade the negative, destructive beliefs that have caused your heart to harden for a soft heart, so you may hear God’s Voice of Truth, Hope, and Love?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I submit to You the Self-defense I have built around my heart, in order to protect it. Remove this hard defense in my heart, Lord, and cover my heart with Your Defense of Love, Hope, and Truth, so I may live and be happy.

Maintain an Awareness

I found out that I had an enemy. You do, too. We have had him from the beginning of our lives. His name is the father-of-lies. His native language is…lying!

The Two Counsels

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Angry Bitter

September 28

Judge Nothing before the Time

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THEREFORE JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, UNTIL THE LORD COME, WHO BOTH WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS, AND WILL MAKE MANIFEST THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS: AND THEN SHALL EVERY MAN HAVE PRAISE OF GOD
(1 Corinthians 4:5).

How often have I judged something or someone at face value, just to find out later that things were not at all what they seemed.  I remember one incident where I deemed a certain person strong, confident, and victorious.  I found out later that this person was actually very weak and deeply unhappy.  Things were not what they seemed.

 I CARE VERY LITTLE IF I AM JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY HUMAN COURT; INDEED, I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF
(1 Corinthians 4:3).

Child, you need to know that things are not what they seem.  In fact, what you perceive as the truth might be the exact opposite of what I, the Most High, consider as Truth. You might perceive yourself as guilty and bad, but why don’t you ask Me for My Opinion? When I make manifest the counsel of your heart, My Viewpoint might surprise you. You might consider yourself low, lost, and last, but why don’t you receive My Input? When I bring to light the hidden things of darkness, My Perception might blow your mind. You might have concluded, over time, that you have nobody who cares about you, but why don’t you allow Me to give you My Perspective? My Impression about your situation might amaze you and persuade you to judge nothing before the time.

BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, ‘DO NOT CONSIDER HIS APPEARANCE OR HIS HEIGHT, FOR I HAVE REJECTED HIM. THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS MAN LOOKS AT.  MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART’
(1 Samuel 16:7).

The father-of-lies will paint a negative, destructive picture of a certain person in your mind to set you up against that person. This picture will instill fear, hatred, and jealousy in you. This will cause harm to you and the person involved. But, if you bring this picture to the Lord Jesus, He will show you His Perspective, for the Lord does not look at the things we look at. We look at the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart.

So, the next time you want to judge something or someone, including yourself…DON’T!  Things are not what they seem. Only God knows the Truth. Ask him for His Opinion.

Whom have you judged at face value, recently? What has your conclusion been?

Are you willing to submit this conclusion to God and ask Him for His Perspective? If you do, it will change your attitude about the person you judged.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make known the counsels of the heart, because I desire to live by Your Truth.

Maintain an Awareness

Truth is not something logical we can produce from our own minds; instead, Truth is the supernatural reasoning of the Holy Spirit in our minds.

The Two Counsels
September 27

A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

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THE LAMP OF THE BODY IS THE EYE. THEREFORE, WHEN YOUR EYE IS GOOD, YOUR WHOLE BODY ALSO IS FULL OF LIGHT. BUT WHEN YOUR EYE IS BAD, YOUR BODY ALSO IS FULL OF DARKNESS
(Luke 11:34).

A lie comes into our minds in the form of a picture—a spiritual picture. This picture is painted by the father-of-lies. After he has painted one of his pictures in our minds, he uses it to control us. He controls us, from the outside, through a spiritual mind picture, on the inside. The Bible calls this DECEPTION. When we look at these spiritual mind pictures, in detail, we find out that each one tells a story. These stories are false. They are made up of lies. If we live according to these spiritual pictures the father-of-lies painted in our minds, we become his slaves. We think the thoughts he wants us to think, do the deeds he wants us to do, and become the person he wants us to be.

LET THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH, AND THE MEDITATION OF MY HEART, BE ACCEPTABLE IN THY SIGHT, O LORD, MY STRENGTH, AND MY REDEEMER
(Psalm 19:14).

Beloved Child, I want you to know, today, that I, the Most High, DID something about these spiritual mind pictures and the false stories they tell. I sent you the TRUTH. His name is Jesus. Did you know that My Son, Jesus, can do something that nobody else can do…not even you? Jesus can walk into your mind picture and exchange it for a different one. The father-of-lies’ pictures will tell you that you are alone, that you do not have what it takes, that you are the bad guy, and that you are not wanted. If you invite Jesus, who is the Truth, into your mind picture, He will remove it and put His own Picture in its place. He will use this new Picture to tell you how HE feels about you. This new spiritual Picture will set you free. It will show you, in your own mind, that you are NOT alone, that you DO have what it takes, that you are NOT bad, and that you ARE wanted. But, in order for this exchange to take place, you need to invite the Truth into the spiritual mind pictures that the father-of-lies has painted, first.

FOR HIS EYES ARE ON THE WAYS OF MAN, AND HE SEES ALL HIS STEPS. THERE IS NO DARKNESS NOR SHADOW OF DEATH WHERE THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY MAY HIDE THEMSELVES
(Job 34:21-22).

What do you do with the spiritual mind pictures that live in your mind? Do you believe and obey the stories they tell? How does this affect your life? Would you like to change? Then, you need to start living according to different spiritual mind pictures, called the Truth.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I invite You into the spiritual pictures that live in my mind. Come and replace them with Your own Picture—the Truth.

Maintain an Awareness

It is very important that you understand that it is not so much what happened to you during your childhood that affected you the most, BUT WHAT YOU CAME TO BELIEVE ABOUT YOUR SELF, OTHERS, AND GOD, IN RESPONSE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES (facts) of your childhood life.

The Two Counsels
September 26

The Voice in Your Heart

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I have noticed something about my heart.  I have noticed that when I react to something or someone, I do not react to the person or the circumstance, but I react to a VOICE IN MY HEART.  The voice is very subtle…almost hidden, and if I do not deliberately pay attention to it, I will not notice it at all.  To reword, this voice is better described as a thought…a speculation…a judgment.

I have observed that this voice speaks to me during the FRACTION OF TIME in between a happening and my reaction, which makes it very hard to catch.  In fact, if I do not slow things down and focus on that fraction of time, the voice will go unnoticed and it will seem as if I reacted to the circumstance or person, instead.

THE GOOD MAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS OUT OF THE GOOD STORED UP IN HIS HEART, AND THE EVIL MAN BRINGS EVIL THINGS OUT OF THE EVIL STORED UP IN HIS HEART. FOR OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF HIS HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS
(Luke 6:45).

Know that there are many speculations stored up in your heart and that you react to someone or something according to what is stored up in your heart.  For years, I had a lot of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame stored up in my heart.  Whenever I reacted to something or someone, I did not react to the person or the circumstance, but to the subtle voices of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame, stored up in my heart.

However, I have learned to PAUSE the fraction of time between a happening and my reaction…and CATCH the subtle voices of abandonment, condemnation, rejection, and shame that have been stored up in my heart. Then, I have learned to SURRENDER these voices to God, allowing Him to EXCHANGE them for the clear Voice of Truth. During the pause, I listen, and I am able to hear, “THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT.”

WHETHER YOU TURN TO THE RIGHT OR TO THE LEFT, YOUR EARS WILL HEAR A VOICE BEHIND YOU, SAYING, ‘THIS IS THE WAY; WALK IN IT’
(Isaiah 30:21).

Today, I have noticed that the speculations in my heart have changed.  During a happening, I am now able to respond to the new Voice of Truth, Acceptance, Worthiness, and Belonging that now live in my heart.

To what subtle voices in your heart do you react, daily?

PRAYER: Guide me to pause the fraction of time between a happening and my reaction, Lord God, so You may show me the way, that I may walk in it.

Maintain an Awareness

Many of these untrue childhood conclusions grouped together to raise a spirit of defilement in us—the OLD MAN mentality that duped us into thinking we were doomed and damned, for life.

The Two Counsels
September 25

The Tree of Righteousness

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THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD GOD IS UPON ME; BECAUSE THE LORD HATH ANOINTED ME TO PREACH GOOD TIDINGS UNTO THE MEEK; HE HATH SENT ME TO BIND UP THE BROKENHEARTED, TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVES, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRISON TO THEM THAT ARE BOUND…TO APPOINT UNTO THEM THAT MOURN IN ZION, TO GIVE UNTO THEM BEAUTY FOR ASHES, THE OIL OF JOY FOR MOURNING, THE GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS; THAT THEY MIGHT BE CALLED TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE PLANTING OF THE LORD, THAT HE MIGHT BE GLORIFIED
(Isaiah 61:1,3).

After my daddy died, it felt like I stepped over a line into a different world where I did not belong. I transferred from a world filled with bright, warm sunshine to a cold underground cave, filled with dreary darkness. On the one side of the line, where my daddy used to live, there was light, life, and love. There was color. But, on the other side of the line was the abandoned life, filled with condemnation, shame, and rejection. Here, there was no life…no love…no light. Here, there was only desolate suffering…anguish…death. The ground was barren. Nothing grew here. What could possibly grow in a pitch dark world where the rocky soil was cut off from all light, life, and love?

Then, one day, God showed me His Perspective of my desperate world. How surprised I was when, there, in the barren soil, where nothing ever grew, stood a tree—a beautiful, tall, sturdy, healthy, green tree. It was the Tree of Righteousness. God showed me that this tree only grew under severe conditions of agony and anguish. It did not grow in warm, bright sunshine like all the other trees, where there were Light, Love, and Life. No, this tree grew painstakingly slowly, in dark, desolate places, from a seed of suffering. In order for this seed of suffering to grow into a beautiful tree, it had to be watered with a consistent drop of obedient surrender, moment-by-moment, every day.

I am that seed. For all my obedient surrendering during my suffering, I have received an exchange: Beauty for ashes, the Oil of Joy for my mourning, the Garment of Praise for my spirit of heaviness, that I might become a Tree of Righteousness, the Planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. What a revelation!

Are you going through a difficult time of doom, dread, and despair? Hang in there. Your seed of suffering is growing into a beautiful Tree of Righteousness through your obedient surrender to God.

PRAYER: Lord my God, thank you that You have not forsaken me. Thank you that You give me Beauty for ashes, the Oil of Joy for my mourning, the Garment of Praise for the spirit of heaviness; that I might be called a Tree of Righteousness, the Planting of the Lord, that You might be glorified.

Maintain an Awareness

Know that you cannot be a friend of the Light and be a friend of darkness, at the same time. Darkness and Light do not mix. They are incompatible. You are either in the dark, or in the light.

The Two Counsels

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Abandoned Hopeless

September 24

Strength and Beauty

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‘TO WHOM WILL YOU COMPARE ME?
OR WHO IS MY EQUAL?’ SAYS THE HOLY ONE.
LIFT YOUR EYES AND LOOK TO THE HEAVENS:
WHO CREATED ALL THESE?
HE WHO BRINGS OUT THE STARRY HOST ONE BY ONE,
AND CALLS THEM EACH BY NAME.
BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT POWER AND MIGHTY STRENGTH,
NOT ONE OF THEM IS MISSING
(Isaiah 40:25-26).

I bless you to ponder God’s beauty around you.  Listen.  Observe.  Embrace.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens.  Notice the stars.  Behold the majestic Milky Way.  Listen, and you will hear, “My Child, I am He who created the stars and called them each by name.  Because of My great Power and mighty Strength, not one of them is missing.  You will not become lost, either.  My Power is sufficient to take care of you, as well. Nobody will snatch you out of My hands.”

THE LORD ON HIGH IS MIGHTIER THAN THE NOISE OF MANY WATERS, YEA, THAN THE MIGHTY WAVES OF THE SEA
(Psalm 93:4).

Stand next to the ocean and observe.  Watch the waves swell and plummet, leaving veils of white surf flying on the wings of the wind.  Hear the waves smashing and crashing, exploding on the rocks.  Listen, and you will hear the Most High tell you, “Be still, Child.  Be patient in affliction.  I am mightier than the mighty waves of the sea. I will provide. I will bring you to your purpose, safely. I will lift you out of the pit and take you to the place where you belong.”

THE LORD WILL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT, AND YOUR DAYS OF SORROW WILL END
(Isaiah 60:1:20).

Watch the full moon take its place in the sky. Feel the moonlight shining on your face like a lamp. See the long shadows cast behind you. Observe how night appears like day.  Listen, and you will hear the Everlasting Father tell you, “My Child, I sent you My Son, Jesus, to be the NEW MAN in your spirit, soul, and body. Let Him become your Everlasting Light, your Resurrected Life, and your Perfect Love, so you would not have to walk in darkness, rejection, and abandonment anymore.  Follow Him as He leads you into Belonging, Acceptance, and Worthiness…and your days of sorrow will end.”

Is your soul troubled? Is your heart filled with sorrow? Is your spirit filled with heaviness? Do you need a life? Go outside and meet God in nature. Let Him show you His Glory…His Power…His Presence.

PRAYER: To whom will I compare You, Lord God? You bring out the stars, one by one. Because of Your great Power, not one of them is missing. Most High, become my Light in my darkness. Show me Belonging, Acceptance, and Worthiness. Let me see Your Presence in my weariness.

Maintain an Awareness

It is very important that you understand that it is not so much what happened to you during your childhood that affected you the most, BUT WHAT YOU CAME TO BELIEVE ABOUT YOUR SELF, OTHERS, AND GOD, IN RESPONSE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES (facts) of your childhood life.

The Two Counsels
September 23

He Answered My Prayer

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I TOOK MY TROUBLES TO THE LORD; I CRIED OUT TO HIM, AND HE ANSWERED MY PRAYER
(Psalm 120:1).

I am reminded of a specific incident where I took my troubles to God.  I prayed for weeks on end.  I pleaded with God.  I begged Him for an answer.  Day after day, I waited for an answer, but nothing happened.  God was silent.

A month later, I talked to a friend about my plight: “God never answered my cry. I don’t think He cares about me anymore. In fact, I think He has abandoned me.”  Suddenly, as I was speaking, I remembered something.  I remembered hearing a little voice in my heart about a week after I started praying about my problem.  As I focused on the message of the little voice, I suddenly realized it had been the answer to my prayer, all along.  Then I wondered, “Why did I not hear the answer at the time it was conveyed to me?”

Today, I know the answer to that question. At the time, I already had an answer visualized in my mind.  MY answer filled my entire mind; there was no space for GOD’S Answer.  My mind was not open to the radical Answer God wanted to give me, so I blocked it out of my mind and heart.

FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE
(Philippians 2:13).

Be certain that your Father DOES answer your prayers, but His Answer might be different from the one you are expecting.  It might be radical… revolutionary…extreme.  His Answer might not fit your purpose, but it will fit God’s Purpose for you.

LET US THEN APPROACH GOD’S THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE, SO THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF NEED
(Hebrews 4:16).

When you pray and lay your problem before God, give Him the freedom to answer you in any way He wants to, according to His great Mercy and Grace. Push your own preconceived answers aside. Then, HIS Answer will enter your mind and heart.

Are you ready to open your mind and heart to God’s Answer that might be radical, revolutionary, and extreme?

PRAYER: Open the ears of my heart, Lord God, so I may HEAR what YOU want to tell me about my situation, about my purpose, and about my problem. Open the eyes of my heart that I may SEE what YOU are trying to show me, instead of being blinded by my own ideas and expecting my own answer to materialize.

Maintain an Awareness

Thus, the OLD MAN became the origin of sin that causes the effect of sin in each of us. The OLD MAN is where it all started and where it all ends…unless we are delivered from it.

The Two Counsels

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Hopeless Worthless