Journey
The
~ Archives
March 2025
March 1
Hold to my promise. Honor my instruction. Claim my power. Represent me faithfully and courageously without reserve. Receive my wisdom. Trust my Spirit. Speak as I direct. Watch my work.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.
March 2
The peace you experience is my presence within you. I have shown you in many ways that I alone control these matters, and what you once saw as insurmountable is simple for me. I made you a promise long ago...you remember...and my faithful promises serve as your armor and protection. There was a time when you acted as if you alone had to bear the full weight of these responsibilities, yet you have learned to follow me as I carry them. I have this. Your role is to follow me. I will cover you, shelter you, and lead you.
2 Kings 3:17-18
You will see neither wind nor rain, says the Lord, but this valley will be filled with water. You will have plenty for yourselves and your cattle and other animals. But this is only a simple thing for the Lord, for he will make you victorious...
March 3
Stay the course. Expect the contrary wind, but do not yield to it. I am your strength. I am your courage. I am your wisdom. Remain in my presence and continue to seek me in this matter. Have I not already given you knowledge and understanding? Did I not reveal a way forward? Lean on me and confess my ability to restore the broken parts. Act as I direct. Expect me. Trust me.
Exodus 15:2
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
March 4
I am your source and provision today and every day. The responsibilities of this assignment are significant, and the resources needed to fulfill it are equally substantial. My plan is that you rely on me for resources, not on yourself. I have endowed you with capabilities suited to the task at hand. I have also chosen to have you confront your limitations and lean into my limitlessness. I know this feels unnatural -- it requires you to relinquish control. However, the more you embrace this, the more natural it becomes.
Psalms 36:8-9
You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
March 5
Shift your attention from these concerns to my reality and live this day in the strength of my promise. Come now into my presence through prayer. Confess your pride and surrender your will and hope to me. Open your mind to my Spirit and remember how I have led and protected you. Give thanks for my provision, which has never failed in its sufficiency or timing. The wonders you have witnessed are mine to craft and mine to direct. Yours is to humbly and obediently seek me. Trust me to make clear what you are to say, what you will do, and when. Always remember, the future is mine. Follow me.
Psalm 34:4-7
I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me.
He freed me from all my fears.
Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened;
he saved me from all my troubles.
For the angel of the LORD is a guard;
he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
March 6
Speak your praise and acknowledge your understanding that I Am. Embrace the authority of my Holy Spirit in every aspect of your life. Nothing is hidden from me. I know the hope for what you hold dear and the fear that this hope may not be realized if you relinquish control. It is a matter of trust that has become unhinged from belief. Remain in my presence and invite my Spirit to restore the faith that reconnects trust to belief. Yes, acknowledge your understanding that I Am and you are not.
Psalm 104
1 Let all that I am praise the LORD.
O LORD my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
31 May the glory of the LORD continue forever!
The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made!
33 I will sing to the LORD as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
35 …Let all that I am praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!
February 2025
February 1
Ask me about hope and trust. Read my promises and instructions. Decide to put your full weight upon what you believe. Invest your hope freely as you trust the truth of my Word, and my Spirit will open it to your mind. This is where the things of the Spirit engage the realities of life. Trust me.
Psalm 37:4-6
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
February 2
Remember the position I taught you. Return to it. Even a brief distraction from me will lead you off course. Given time, your distracted mind will become a target for a spiritual ambush. Focus now upon the elements of position…humbly surrender into my presence through prayer; seek me personally and intentionally; confess and turn from the sin I now reveal to you. As you regain position, you will experience the protection, peace, and confidence of my favor, my forgiveness, and the restoration you seek…the perfect effectiveness of my promise.
2 Chronicles 7:14a
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways….
2 Chronicles 7:14b
…I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.
February 3
Your focus is on the outcome you desire concerning this issue. However, to experience that result, you must release it to my purpose and way. Prayer is the method I established for you to enter my presence and connect with me. In my presence, I welcome your petitions while guiding you to discover my will regarding the needs you present. I require your humility—a complete relinquishment of your agenda in favor of mine, with your will fully surrendered to me. Seek me without any desire other than to experience me—not to gain something from me, but to be in my presence. It is at that moment that I respond. I am aware of your needs and hopes. I will shape them to my purpose and act in ways that amaze you.
Luke 9:23
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
February 4
The matter that burdens you is serious and will require close attention as it continues to unfold. Shift your focus from the issues and turn it to me. I am your rock, your fortress, and your savior. The protection and guidance you seek are found in me. I will lead you to the right counselors and wise decisions, step by step. I am your shield and the power that saves you. Come to me now. I am the place of safety and peace where you will find rest, where your thoughts will untangle, where fear will melt away, and where you will gain confidence for this journey. Follow me.
Psalm 18:1-2
I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
February 5
You know I am at work in this matter according to my purpose. Even though you cannot yet see the end of it, your experience with me becomes the basis of confidence. My Spirit affirms it and gives you peace as you acknowledge my presence and authority. Your belief yields faith. Your faith yields trust. Your trust yields hope. The strength of your hope yields confidence. Your confidence allows you to move forward today, sure that I am guiding the placement of each step.
Proverbs 3:26
For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
Psalm 20:7
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
February 6
Seek me, not the solution. It is a subtle difference in process but a clear difference in intent. You want the solution. I want you to learn of me as the loving, eternal Source of all solutions. There will always be more at play in my purpose and way than your design and hope. Always bring me your needs, then remain in my presence as I open your mind to a greater purpose and scope than you can imagine. This is part of what I meant when I directed you to follow me.
Mark 1:17
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
And they left their nets at once and followed him.
John 15:4
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
February 7
Defining humility requires honesty. You commonly define it by comparing yourself to someone you perceive as lacking humility. You also often define it by comparing your current self to your past self. However, your understanding of humility becomes clear only as you seek me…when you honestly compare your limited self to me and confess your inability to experience humility by your own effort. I gently guide you to become like a child in your dependence…in your honesty, openness, and trust...in your humility. Just as a powerless child reaches for his father's protective embrace, I want you to reach for me. I will never reject you or let you down.
Matthew 18:4
So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Isaiah 57:15
The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”
February 8
Your heart speaks clearly in these moments. Your desire to lead effectively in today’s meeting is both appropriate and significant, as the subject is of critical importance. I have gone before you and am readying the spirit-ears of those who will gather. You must keep your focus on me. I am now shaping your thoughts and words. Speak as I direct. The thoughts will be there. You will represent truth, rightness, justice, fairness, and love—all aspects of my character. I am your source. I am your insight. I am your wisdom. Stay close…so close that when the people come to hear you, they will hear me.
Psalms 36:7-10
How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your river of delights. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see. Pour out your unfailing love on those who love you; give justice to those with honest hearts.
February 9
You ask about the decision at hand and the risks that seem to be tied to it. You also seek my organization of thoughts and words to express it accurately. I want to affirm you before I respond to either of those matters. This is the type of relationship I have been leading you to embrace. Do you sense the clarity and peaceful ease of these moments? You have been in my presence, not just to ask for a quick favor and leave, as has often been the case, but you have stayed here in my shadow...following attentively, aware of our proximity as we moved through the day. Here is peace. Here is knowledge and wisdom. Here is protection. Here is grace. Here is courage. Here are answers and resources. You know I will guide you in the decision. In fact, you realize I have already defined it and the actions you will take. Remain in my presence.
Psalms 121:5-8
The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
February 10
I hear you and understand the need you present before me. Stay close to me and remember how I have worked countless times in your life when you were unsure of how to proceed. I am your provider. Hold firmly to that truth as I guide your steps today. Expect me.
Genesis 22:14
Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
Matthew 14:20
They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.
February 11
The issues swirling around you stir deep emotions and weigh heavily, but I am here with you…in you…around you…carrying you. I understand the strain of it and am protecting you as we navigate these difficulties. I am your clear discernment and rescuer, your savior. Breathe deeply in these moments and acknowledge my reality and presence. Speak aloud my promises of care and protection. Thank me for what draws you to me. In your expression of gratitude, I shape your thoughts and guide each step. I am guarding you and leading you.
Psalm 119:169-176
O LORD, listen to my cry; give me the discerning mind you promised.
Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised.
Let praise flow from my lips, for you have taught me your decrees.
Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right.
Give me a helping hand, for I have chosen to follow your commandments.
O LORD, I have longed for your rescue, and your instructions are my delight.
Let me live so I can praise you, and may your regulations help me.
I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten your commands.
February 12
Release your tight control and humbly trust me with what you have asked. Acknowledge and confess that you cannot fix or restore; it is my work—shift your reliance from your effort to mine. Restoration will require time and processes under my authority and purpose. You are responsible for staying in my presence and actively seeking understanding of me and my ways, your will surrendered to mine, ready to respond obediently to my command.
Matthew 16:24-25
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
February 13
Rest in the confidence and peace of my presence. Absorb the care of my Spirit. Release your fear and guilt. Confess my unlimited ability to forgive and restore. Remember my many acts of provision and protection; they remain just as powerful now. I am at work in ways you do not yet need to see, but you must trust me. Lean on what you know about me in faith and watch.
Psalm 23:1-6
The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
February 14
It is a matter of loving well and the most powerful of my gifts. I am love, and I dwell within you. My Spirit will create in you what you cannot summon alone. Surrender to my power and let me shape your life with a love that transcends your natural abilities. Seek me in this matter—you will be convinced of my love of you and learn how I love through you. My love transforms everything it touches.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…
February 15
You are at peace, which seems odd to you. Your usual reaction to this kind of challenge is high anxiety. Do you understand what happened? I covered you. Your stress was escalating to the point of freezing your thoughts and putting you in danger. I intervened and enveloped you in my grace. Just as temperature lowers when water covers a fire, so soothing peace arises when my grace covers you. Next, I brought you to a praying friend, to whom I gave insight into the issues you face. His understanding provided you comfort. Then I caused you to sleep soundly and restfully. Now, you are ready for the day—refreshed, yielded, and aware of my power to lead and provide. I hear your praise and thanks as I reveal all this to you. You know that I have these matters in hand... and always have.
1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Then David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly: “O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, may you be praised forever and ever! Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
February 16
Come rest with me for a while. Recall my words and instructions. I will stir them freshly, teaching you, encouraging you, strengthening you, enlivening your faith. Let me remind you of my great love for you.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
February 17
Do not mistake my requirement of a broken spirit as being destroyed and useless. Nothing could be further from the truth. I speak of brokenness in terms of that which has become tender and pliable in my hands...yielded, able to be shaped according to my purpose. It is a conscious and constant understanding that I am, and you are not; that I can, and you cannot; that I have, and you do not...a driving realization of your need for me, and a resolute determination to seek me and to be in my presence. That is what I choose to bless. Your brokenness in my hands becomes strength...an undeniably effective tool for my purpose.
Matthew 5:3
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Isaiah 64:8
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand.
February 18
Come looking for me again today. You will find me right next to you. Allow the challenges to turn you to me. My Spirit will calm the emotional turmoil and ease your mind. I will clarify the way forward and form the strength for you to move in it. Seek me diligently, like a man dying of thirst seeks water. I am your Source. I am your relief. I am your courage. I am your wisdom. I am your provision. And I will make a way.
Deuteronomy 30:10
The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
February 19
Seek me in this. The issue you ponder is too deeply entrenched for the typical efforts you apply. I am the only remedy for a wounded soul. Seek me. It is not beyond my reach or the extent of your faith in my perfect ability. I will lead you in this determined intercession. Do not relax your request or your trust. Seek me, persevere, and watch as I work. Expect me.
Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
February 20
I listen for your genuine gratitude for all I do in and around you—not because I need it, but because it signifies what has occurred within you. Your praise and thanks indicate that you comprehend our relationship and recognize I am the Creator, Master, and Commander, while you are not. Your appreciation reflects humility within you, and I respond to that humility by giving you more of myself in and around you. This perfectly defines our relationship and enables me to lead you completely into my plan for you. Keep it up... it is music to my ears.
2 Chronicles 5:13-14
The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.
February 22
Fear is an essential warning of danger. I placed it as a protective element, indicating that a decision and action are required. However, untended, unchecked fear becomes a paralyzing master and a favored tool of the enemy. It deceives the mind, destroys the spirit, and robs life. Diligently seek me on behalf of those I have brought to your mind. Keep them before me. I will break the chains of fear and restore them to a sound mind and a peaceful, satisfying life. Trust me. Expect me.
John 10:10
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Psalm 34:4
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
February 23
You feel alone. I have allowed you to remain there for a while, though I have never left you and am near. I chose to be quiet so that you might understand your need for me. I love you and have an important assignment for you that requires your full attention. Trust me as I use quietness for my purpose within you; it compels you to strain to listen for me. I am revealing some things that you hold tightly- matters that need adjustment before I entrust you with the task. If I had not interrupted your confident stride, you would not have sought me as you have in these past several days, and you would have missed the turn ahead. I know you have questions, but it is my desire that you discover the answers in dependence upon me, one day at a time. You will come to appreciate what you learn.
Psalms 107:13-15
“Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom; he snapped their chains. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
February 24
Come close to me. You are contemplating what the future may or may not hold. Be careful. You easily drift out of position when you do that. Have I not shown you my authority over the future? Have I not demonstrated my provision for you? Have I not clarified the direction and the steps? Focus your attention on me and my reality, not on speculations of what may or may not be. I am your constancy, your courage, your power, your direction, and your confidence. Follow me as I have taught you.
Psalms 19:7-10
The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
February 25
I made the assignment clear. Now, dedicate yourself to my Word. Read it, absorb it, embrace it, and apply it. My Spirit is guiding you, correcting and shaping your thoughts, forming your will, and endorsing truth and understanding. Even in this most complex of issues, I have charted the way and will provide the courage you need to navigate it. Did I not open your mind to key understanding? Seek me. Trust me. Move forward in the wisdom and light that I provide.
Joshua 1:8
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
February 26
Before you begin this day, before you focus your thoughts on the matters I have set before you, come and linger in my presence. There is a stain on your heart that I need to remove. As I draw your attention to it, confess and agree with me. I will clean it and remove all traces. Then, you may proceed into the day’s assignment and the specific task of restoration with the clarity, confidence, and strength of my Spirit.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Joshua 3:5
Then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you.”
Luke 1:17
He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.”
Joshua 1:9
This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
February 27
I have a purpose in this assignment that you do not yet fully understand. Your focus is understandably on the near-term challenges measured in minutes and days, and resource gains or losses. I am with you, guiding, enabling, blessing, guarding, and providing. But I also own the unlimited and timeless scope of eternity that extends before and beyond your awareness and opinion. My exclusive authority includes the eternal context in which you awaken this morning. By my grace, you will rise within it. By my grace, you will perform within it. By my grace, you will experience strength and hope in the current challenge, not because you have full understanding, but because you know that I do.
2 Timothy 2:1
Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
February 28
Trust me with time. Remember, I created the concept of time with its light and dark sequences, models of past, present, and future, and the divisions of years, days, hours, and minutes, all for your benefit to provide reference points in our relationship. But I am eternal and do not need time as you understand it. Essentially, I am without beginning and without end. I have designs and a purpose that you have experienced, that you are currently experiencing, and that you are getting ready to discover. Consider all this in light of my endless love for you and my promise that, through faith, you have already joined me in the eternal realm, although its fulfillment is yet to be experienced. Stay in my presence and confess my authority over the assignment and time. I have this.
2 Peter 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
January 2025
January 1
Please allow a departure from the usual format this morning. We begin a new year together and the 11th year of these daily posts called “The Journey.” My prayer turns to each of you each morning as I write. Though you read a summary of how the Lord is impressing me, I hear from time to time how the words touch one of you at a point of need. I am grateful to know it. I will leave you to start the year with this instruction to a leader under assignment named Joshua. May it be your experience. See you tomorrow on The Journey.
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
January 2
As I began my work directly among people many years ago, my first command to those I chose as my closest friends and students was, 'Follow me.' That command applies to you as well. The relationship I promise and all its benefits depend on your full and unreserved compliance with that simple command. Your obedience is not something we negotiate. It is not a mutual compromise. It requires you to turn away from your agenda and fully embrace mine. It means yielding entirely to me, period. Those are my terms. I love you more than you can imagine, but I do not negotiate.
Luke 9:23-26
Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
January 3
You are aware of the challenges that arise in the assignment. The extensive experience of our journey together and how I guided you through each obstacle have strengthened your trust and deepened your reliance on me, resulting in a faithful expectation of my presence and provision according to my promise and purpose. You also remember moments when you became distracted from me, and challenge escalated into a confusing tangle of unexpected circumstances and spiritual attack. Let that memory draw you closer to me this morning. Seek me diligently. Discover my purpose at each decision point in the day.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
January 4
The characteristics I expect to define your life at all times are gained only through closeness to me. I notice your tendency to try to create the traits I desire while living distant from me. You stay within sight and wave to me occasionally, but the character traits are inconsistent at best. Maintaining a friendly distance from me to give you space to wander will not suffice. I chose you to be holy. That can only happen in my direct presence. Draw near and stay there. I will clothe you in the love, mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience I require. You will find it to be a natural fit and a true reflection. Your only responsibility is to remain in my presence. I will handle the wardrobe.
Colossians 3:12-14
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
January 5
Following me is deliberate. It requires your effort to engage with me—belief, faith, desire, intent, and determination to be close to me and to stay there. That is your designated role as a follower, and your only duty is to maintain that position. Understand that I will be moving, guiding you from task to task, so remaining in position is a very active process that will engage every facet of your spiritual, mental, and physical self. As you respond to me, while in position, I will enhance your belief, faith, desire, intent, and determination with an abundant supply of moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patient endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love for all. As you follow me in this way, you will grow increasingly in my image, and your effectiveness in the tasks I involve you in will increase in ways that will amaze you.
2 Peter 1:5-8
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
January 6
It hinges on my grace in you and your surrender to it. You are unnecessarily wrestling with decisions about whether to pursue this or that regarding the opportunities I have placed before you. You ponder various areas of engagement, questioning your capability. When did I leave you to become the sole determiner of such things? When you sought insight, did I not provide it? When you needed rest, did you not find it? When you required strength, was it not present? When it came time to decide, did I not clarify what choice to make? I am with you, guiding each step, supplying the desire and the power to do what pleases me. My grace is not dependent on age, experience, energy, or desire. It is revealed as you respond obediently to my guidance. Trust me. I am your Source. You will manage the how, the can, the if, and the when by my ability. Your role is to follow me.
John 9:4
We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.
Philippians 2:13
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
January 7
Consider the various roles you play and the people you touch in each role. Trust the promise of my blessing among them. I taught you the mystery of prayer, the way into my presence. Bring those individuals before me, seeking my blessing in each life. In so doing, you fulfill your responsibility of influence among them. You also open another mystery: my favor upon them for my purpose in them. It is the highest form of leadership.
Numbers 6:23-27
“Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’
Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”
January 8
The implement in your hand is old and worn. The wood is dry, and the stains are deeply ingrained. Even so, the implement is as capable today as it was when you acquired it all those years ago. When you restore the wood, cleaning and smoothing it, and nourishing the old grain with oils, it will come alive again. Its contrast will reappear, and its luster will deepen. Your soul is like that implement…dry and in need of caring restoration. I am ready to do that for you: to cleanse you and nourish your soul, to renew you for the purpose for which I created you, and to prepare you for the assignment that awaits you. You need only to ask. I am here. Turn to me, and I will take care of the rest.
1 John 5:4
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
January 9
Be honest. Your frustration stems from fear that you may have lost credibility due to not achieving the results you defined as success within your established timeline. But this assignment is not about you. It is about expanding my culture and influence through my means and authority. Your job is to follow me in faith and trust in my abilities. Acknowledge your pride and let go of your fear. Allow my Spirit to foster trust in what I am doing…more today than yesterday and more tomorrow than today. Follow me as I have taught you. Your experience with me is sufficient evidence of my trustworthiness. I will guide you to fulfill my will, and my Spirit will lead you forward. Keep this in mind as you engage with the assignment today.
Psalm 143:8, 10
Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you…Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward.
January 10
You awaken to another opportunity to trust me…with the facts of a situation and with your emotional reaction to it. Shift your attention from both facts and emotions and fix it on me. I am your place-marker for truth and your source of wisdom. The facts will not change, but emotion will diffuse your understanding of them. I am the stability and the constancy in this. Come close and trust me.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
January 11
Total, unconditional surrender—that is the key to it all. Living in my presence, with my Spirit continually expanding within you, establishes thought, provides courage, clarifies understanding, empowers action, and blends it all with true humility and complete honesty, yielding the experience of true love and effectiveness in all things. This is my offer. All this is so you may become a man who sees clearly, who hears my voice, in whom I entrust insight and hope, who bows before me with a keen awareness of who I am and an eagerness to act as I direct. I alone will provide it all. You cannot self-generate it. It is yours upon your surrender of title to your life. It is the best deal you have ever encountered. Yet your pride and need to control cause you to hedge... to negotiate. You want the results without full payment. I do not negotiate. Trust me. Hand me the title.
Numbers 24:2-4
…Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and this is the message he delivered:
“…the message of the man whose eyes see clearly, the message of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open…”
January 12
You thought it was too small to bring to me, but I am interested in the smallest things as much as the largest ones. Attend to the responsibilities of your position just as I taught you, accept my forgiveness, and keep asking for my restoration. Then, watch as I work.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Psalm 104:33-34
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the LORD.
January 13
Remain on task. Do not waiver or doubt. Those for whom you have sought blessing and favor are in my hand. There is wisdom in them and more awaits discovery in their respective assignments. Continue praying for my guidance, as each person you have mentioned is a key journeyman in my kingdom. I will reveal how to intercede with me about each one. Remain close to me...constantly...as I guide your involvement with these friends. I will provide you with wisdom, righteousness, and good judgment. Expect it…for them and for you.
Proverbs 9:9-10
Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
January 14
You need light to find your way forward. I am that light—for the path to eternity in heaven and for today in the responsibilities assigned to you. Of course, you will seek guiding illumination from your own experiences, your intellect, or that of others, and you will find a semblance of light and fragments of wisdom. But remember that I taught you to seek me first and foremost. I am the Source of everything you desire. My light will reveal what you can glean from your experiences and those of others and what must be set aside. The reason is simple: I own the future. Others merely guess at it. Come near into the light.
John 8:12
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
John 12:46
I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
January 15
It is not a bad thing in itself, but it drew your attention away from me. The shiny object that captured your interest was a lure. You took the bait, distance grew between us, and our relationship strained. That is the sin and my conviction. The lure is not the issue; an impaired relationship is. Acknowledge and confess it. Then, turn away from the distancing. The enticement is strong, and part of you struggles with leaving it behind. Here is my gift – I know your heart, and the moment you willfully turn away from the enticement, my Spirit will nullify its power and enable the complete turn. Our relationship will be restored and confirmed by the confidence and peace of my nearness.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 32:5
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.
1 John 1:8-9
If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
January 16
Do not try this on your own. Commit yourself to prayer and thank me for the needs that bring you into my presence. It is there that your mind and spirit are fully energized. It is there you discover my purpose in you and through you. It is there you find shelter from the onslaught. It is there you regain your strength. It is there you receive my peace. It is there I reveal the next step. It is there I give you the courage to take it. Prayer is your connection to me. I created you with a need for me and the ability to reach out to me. So…do not try this on your own.
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
January 17
This requires intensity and consistency in prayer that you have only briefly experienced. I will teach you my definition of “remaining in me and I in you.” The ebb and flow of your attention to me must become a strong current, fueled and guided by my Spirit. Ask me, and I will show you how to live and work with moment-to-moment conscious awareness and reliance on my direction. Others will perceive it as effectively engaging responsibilities, but you will know it is the outcome of humble, surrendered following. Much depends upon your obedience in this. Ask me. Trust me.
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Psalm 118:8
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
January 18
You know I am actively guiding you. Remember the lesson from long ago: your only responsibility is to stay by my side, fully attentive and mirroring my every move. Allow my Spirit to turn that metaphorical instruction into reality. Be still…now. Pause your rush into the day. Deliberately shift your focus to me and mentally seek me. Acknowledge your need for me. Ask me how to follow on my terms. Speak your commitment to obedience. Open your mind to my words in scripture. Relax and absorb my peace as my Spirit arranges and clarifies these moments in my presence. Then, approach your responsibilities with the sure knowledge that I am leading you through them. My Spirit will make my intentions clear to your mind. Expect it.
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
1 John 2:27
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.
Isaiah 11:2
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
January 19
Following me is not difficult. I guide you as a loving father and as an experienced, caring shepherd who gently leads, provides, and protects…often carrying you when you feel afraid or when you stray away. The challenging part for you is deciding to follow me, to truly surrender yourself to me. There remains a stubborn pride within you that resists the idea of yielding to anything and drives you to work hard to prove yourself. Although it is not as strong as it once was, it lingers as a rough spot in you that my Spirit must refine…often with the friction of circumstances beyond your control. Trust me with the direction of your life and your affairs. You already understand the benefits. Loosen your grip. Yield to my love.
Isaiah 40:11
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
January 20
Ask me to teach you how to find joy in obeying me. In this pursuit lies the source of desires that guide you toward my purpose and provide the wisdom and insight necessary to make decisions aligned with that purpose. I have made this much easier than you think. I will respond when you earnestly seek me with honesty and genuine humility. I will expand my Spirit within you. I will open your mind to the sin that separates us and to the love that draws you closer to me. I will ignite a yearning in you to rid yourself of what cannot exist in my presence and to hold fast to what brings joy to both you and me. In my presence and in that joy, I will help you know, understand, and see the way. This is what following me is meant to be.
Isaiah 11:3
He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
January 21
I brought you to this point in our journey with intention. Yes, it may seem like an impossible path ahead. That is exactly what I want you to understand. If you were alone, it would be quite impossible to continue. But you are not alone, nor have you reached this place by your own strength. Do you not recall the impossibilities we have already overcome on our journey? Your distress stems from what you are focusing on. You are looking at the mountain that needs to be climbed, yet I have taught you to look at me—to put your faith in me, in my ability, in my power, in my knowledge, in my strength. In me, nothing is impossible. I will show you the way forward. Trust me.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Matthew 21:22
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
January 22
You are quiet today, and I saw you stumble a few times. Your mind is distracted again, and your eyes are averted from me. You are worried. Worry is so natural, so easy to fall into. Trusting me, while right, seems hard. It is something that requires a choice. I created you that way...with choice. There is much I will teach you, but I wait for you to choose to trust me...to consciously turn your mind to me, to seek me. I will take care of the rest…yes, even in this matter. Once you make that choice, I will guide you closer and make clear the way through. Always remember, I know everything you need.
Matthew 6:31-34
So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
January 23
This situation will not undo you. I am here. You are not alone, nor are you without direction. Let the circumstances and your emotions push you to me. You naturally hold tightly to your responsibilities and are used to knowing what to do. However, your next step is to turn fully to me. Relax your mind and step confidently onto the reality and strength of your belief in my ability. Allow trust and peace to surround you, knowing I have you and these circumstances in hand. I will show you the way forward.
Psalm 34:17-20
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
January 24
You will feel a sharp, harsh wind pushing against you today. Yet you will step into it with confidence because you know that you are beside me and that I know the way. Not only do I know the direction, but I also know the path, each safe step placement, and...this is very important for you to keep in mind...I know the outcome of today's experience, how it fits into my plans for you and others, and the result of your journey. The only job you have is to hold tightly to my hand. I have the rest of it.
Psalms 73:23-26
...I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
January 25
I know that you desire the full measure of my benefit, and I favor that in you. I also know that your faith, while growing, remains fragile and easily challenged by the circumstances at hand. The tension within you stems from the reality of the needs for which you are responsible and your struggle to identify adequate resources to meet them. This tension is my tool in your life, for you must learn that I am the resource for those needs, not you or your abilities. Stay close to me. Ask me. Rely on me. Focus on me. I will not fail you. I will show you how.
James 1:5-6
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
January 26
You ask me to open a way forward that you do not yet see. You believe I can do precisely that. However, you also ask with a bias toward your hoped-for end and a reservation that my work may not meet your desires. It is a situation in which your belief in my authority must be matched by raw faith in my ability and unreserved trust in my choice of timing, direction, scope, manner of action, and outcome. Confess your attempt to control these things as you press into me. Remain surrendered in my presence, seeking my direction for each thought and act. I will make clear what you are to say and do. Trust me.
Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
John 14:26-27
But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift— peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
January 27
Your mind is still this morning. It is good. It is my peace in you, as I promised. Many things will swirl around you today...needs, expectations of others, your desires...each pulling at you for a solution. But keep your mind upon me. I am your peace. I am your shelter. I am the source of each solution and the provision of each resource to meet the needs. I am your guide in this storm. I am the victory you seek. Wait quietly, close to me. Lean on me.
Psalms 62:1-2
I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
January 28
I am at work in the matter you brought to me…and in you. Remain in my presence, humble, and surrendered to my way and timing. Allow your emotions to press you into my shelter, and act only as I instruct. Resist the natural urge to extrapolate or second guess. Allow my Spirit to settle and form your thoughts. Seek me and learn today. Expect me.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
2 Kings 4:33
He went in alone and shut the door behind him and prayed to the LORD.
January 29
Is anything outside my authority and domain? Is there any issue beyond my love or my touch? Am I unable to see or understand? Is there any sin so great that I cannot forgive? You know the answer. I am sovereign over all creation, including the matter that seems so impossible to you this morning. I am unlimited, and I am at work. Accept that fact. Thank me for it. Trust me. Expect me.
Ephesians 3:16-20
I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
January 30
I am at work in ways you do not understand. Trust me. I am assembling various pieces…mindsets, wounds, fears, circumstances…all that will align with my will. Your task is clear. Stay in my presence as I remain active within you, recognizing my reality, comfort, and peace. Seek me earnestly. I will clarify how you should act.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Psalm 4:1
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
Isaiah 50:7
But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
December 2024
December 1
I watch to see if my qualities are rising in you or if they fall. You live in an appearance-centric environment and understand that your outward appearance can cover many character faults. But I look at your heart. You are transparent to me; there are no hiding places. I placed my Spirit in you when you first believed me. I will build my character in you. Just ask. As my qualities rise, they keep you effective and productive in representing my way as you move through the day. And you will experience my favor, confidence, and peace.
2 Peter 1:5-8
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
December 2
You have a significant history with me. Remember what you have experienced and the many times you "knew" there was no way forward. Yet, I provided a way each time. Remember also that the fact of my provision has always been independent of your ability to see it in advance or understand it. As you think about the territory ahead through which we will journey, and as you worry about what may or may not be found there, you are entering a domain that is mine to order, not yours. Your job is to stay in position near me, to follow me with intentionality, and to act as I direct. Seek me. I am the answer to your concerns. I will direct adjustments, and I will supply all that is needed
Matthew 6:31-34
So don’t worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?" These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
December 3
Come to me. Yes, turn to me now. It is I who produced this urging in you, and it is I who will rescue you. I am always here. You try so hard to prove your worth in the context of your life, but you remain empty. Let me fill you, first with my reality, then with belief, then with comfort, then with hope, then with faith, then with provision, then with confidence, and finally with peace. Others tell you the story of how they cried out for help, how they confessed their pride, how I loved, listened, forgave, and helped. That can be your story. You need only ask.
Psalm 66:5-6, 9, 16-20
Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!
He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. There we rejoiced in him. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.
For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.
December 4
Ask me to guard your mind. Attend what you take into it, what you see and hear, and the thoughts you entertain. Apply the discipline of intentionality and turn your mind to me. Come humbly confessing the sin of distraction and seek me. You will find me. And with the finding is forgiveness, comfort, fulfillment, confidence, and peace. With my peace, your mind is reset to discover my way in each element of the day. This is what following me is like.
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
December 5
It feels like being held captive. Movement toward the desired outcome is slower than you want it to be. You are chafing at the harness to pull it faster, and your tactical options seem limited. In fact, you are spending much more time inspecting the harness and reviewing tactics than you are listening to me. That is the issue…your do-it-yourself tendency is emerging again. It pleases me to guide you in this assignment. All you need to do is ask. I am always listening for you. If you look for me, you will always find me. I will end your captivity to the harness and tactics, refresh your mind and introduce options, moderate your emotions, and restore your hope. You need only ask. I am here.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes…”
December 6
I know the matters that concern you, and I have already shouldered their weight. I allow you to experience the pain of helplessness within limits so that you understand your need for me. Lean in upon me and know my strength. We have moved uphill and against the wind before, and you know from that experience that this will neither crush nor consume you. I am acting on your behalf, and you will see the restoration you desire. Allow my Spirit to summon hope and build faith in you. Now…get up and meet the day with the assurance that I am with you and going before you to clear the way.
Psalm 18:6
But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.
December 7
Peace is an indication of your certainty that your needs are met. It is always available and does not vary with circumstances. It is spiritual and occurs when you are yielded in my presence. The peace I offer is a factor of your faith and your certainty, not your level of ability or resources. It is the certainty that I love you, that I am present and in control, that my knowledge supersedes your understanding, that my power has no limits, and that my way will prevail perfectly—peace results from your confidence and dependence upon the fact that I am the resource of your life.
John 14:27
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Psalm 51:16-17
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
December 9
This current matter does not define me or my authority in your life. However, it confounds you and drives questions ranging from doubt to hope and back again. Do you so easily forget the journey now behind us, other times when those same questions arose? Do you remember how I comforted you and provided for you? Do you remember the resources I introduced, that conversation that opened your mind to an alternative you had not considered, the way forward I introduced? That was not a coincidental happenstance or a piece of luck. I was at work in and around you, proving my reality and presence. I was building a story in you then that will carry you now. Rest in the truth of my reality and presence. I made you. I am caring for you. And I will bring you safely forward.
Isaiah 46:4
I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:26-28
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
December 10
You are carrying the weight as if you must do this alone. Fix your hope in me and shift the load to my shoulders. All you need do is ask me to take it. I have already charted the way forward and readied the provisions. Your only job is to tuck under my strong arm and follow me. Match your steps to mine and keep your eyes on my face. If you sense resistance, it is me pulling you back on course. Trust me. I am fully aware of the situation and know what I am doing.
John 14:13
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Matthew 7:11
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Psalm 130:7
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
December 11
You know me and my love. That is enough. You are mine, and nothing can separate you from me. No challenge is too great. No force is too strong. No wind is too fierce. No water is too deep. No circumstance is too complicated. Invest trust. Live faith. Expect me. Act accordingly.
Romans 8:38
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.
Psalm 119:1-5
Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the LORD.
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.
They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.
You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully.
Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!
December 12
The door is open. Move through it with confidence. My Spirit has opened it and is standing guard. Remember, as you proceed, this journey is about me and my purpose, not you and yours. You prayed, asking that my authority be established and my will be done in that place. And I have set this before you. Honor my Word and my name. Move in my power. Be alert. Be courageous. Be strong. Respond obediently with love. I am showing you the way.
Revelation 3:8
I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Acts 14:27
And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
1 Corinthians 16:9, 13-14
There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.
December 13
I have provided everything you need to follow me on my terms. By my power, I created you with will to choose. By my power, I created in you a need for significance. By my power, I drew you to desire me as the source of your significance. By my power, I cleaned you from the stain of sin. By my power, I established a personal relationship with you. By my power, I opened your understanding of my way. By my power, I enabled you with the wisdom, strength, and knowledge needed to follow me closely. The one thing I leave in your hands is the simple and daily renewed decision to surrender your will to mine. What will it be today?
2 Peter 1:3
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.
Isaiah 11:2
And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
December 14
All of you, all the time. That is my expectation. I provide for what I expect. My Spirit is in you, restoring, refreshing, and renewing. Seek me, not for your direction or a solution, but for my fullness in you and your completeness in me. Thereby, you will experience the wherewithal—the courage, the wisdom, the strength, the knowledge, the discernment—necessary for the assignment I have given you. Direction and solutions are byproducts of my love and grace.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Psalms 25:4-5
Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
December 15
One of my best friends on earth was in the midst of the greatest crisis of her life. I went to remedy the issue. But before I acted, I wanted to know if she believed I could provide the remedy...to see if she could suspend her reliance on what she knew to be true to rely entirely on what could not be true apart from me. The heart question was, “Do you believe that I am and that I am able?” That is my question to you today. I await your answer.
John 11:26
Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”
Psalms 37:23-25
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.
December 16
You are safe with me… even now as I carry you. You need not worry about how deep the water is as we cross it or how high the flames may rise around us as we traverse a difficult place. For I hold you safely close to me, so close that you can sense the warmth of my presence and the strength of my arms. Knowing this, press in closer to me with your mind and spirit. Move from point to point with confidence today, trusting in my reality and love. Keep your mind attuned to me and sense the impressions of my Spirit. I will make clear what you are to do and say.
Isaiah 40:11
He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
Isaiah 43:2-3
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…
December 17
Do not start this day apart from me. You know how easily your mind drifts, urged on by emotional reactions to events that find purchase in thoughts that compound and words that you cannot retract. Confess the drift and ask me to break the cycle. I am here waiting. The peace and confidence you desire is only a confession away. Then, in the balance that I restore, we will start the day together.
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
December 18
Do not try this apart from me. I am showing you how to live and work on my terms. My Spirit lives within you, directing you, protecting you, instructing you, and empowering you with my character and virtues. Allow me to do the shaping I desire in you, transforming your thoughts so you know my will for you. Confess that I am exactly who your spirit knows me to be, your Lord and God. Apart from that confession, you are a fool leading himself. With it, you will experience my good, pleasing, and perfect intent. Confession is a simple yet profound decision.
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Galatians 5:25
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
Romans 12:2
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
December 19
You cannot make yourself into a reflection of my character. It would be fraudulent to try. That authentic reflection results from my reality, your ongoing confession of that reality, and my Spirit’s transforming work in you, giving rise to qualities that surpass any human ability. Try as you will; you cannot do this without me. Your humble confession of sin and separation is all that is necessary. I close the gap and abide in you, and you in me. It is that simple and that profound.
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
John 15:5
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
December 20
When you humbly confessed my reality as superior to your own, and when you honestly admitted that I am uniquely Lord of all that exists and that my act of sacrifice paid for your sin, everything changed. I established my Holy Spirit in you as an ever-present endorsement of truth and the guiding force of your life. By my Spirit, I enabled the extraordinary capacity in you to love my way. It is love that you cannot conjure in your ability. But as you depend upon me, I introduce a love for others unfiltered by self-serving expectations, needs, preferences, and opinions. Thereby, you may participate with me in the most powerful experience on earth…the transforming exercise of love.
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
December 21
I am allowing you to feel the weight of another’s need, and I hear your call for help on his behalf. Stay in my presence, seeking me, listening, and asking. Persist in this. Acknowledge and confess the sin that I raise to your mind. Actively receive my forgiveness. Remain here and know that I am true to my promise. As I attend to his needs, I am teaching you how to love another on my terms and with my mercy. Trust me with his needs and with your assignment.
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
John 15:5
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
December 22
The reality that I became human and retained my divinity, at once all God and all human, that I lived among you submitting myself to all the experiences of humanity yet sinlessly, is an unacceptable intellectual concept for some. For others, it has become a fable without basis and something to be ignored. Yet, you know it to be true by faith based upon the testimony of others and the power of my Spirit within you. My holiness, my mission of salvation, my unconditional love, my reality and presence in real life, real time are foundation bedrocks of your beliefs. Rise from these moments, stand upon the foundation of truth that I have revealed, and step into the day with confidence. Indeed, I am here.
John 1:1-5
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.
John 1:14
So, the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-17
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
December 23
I have always initiated my most powerful work through people who were powerless. Those shepherds had nothing but the clothes upon their backs, and they were conducting a task that no one else in the culture would even consider. Yet, I first announced my arrival on earth to them. I have taught you throughout our journey together that you must become powerless…like a child in your humility, faith, and dependence upon me…in order to experience the fullness of my way. I have purposely entrusted you with much, but that trust is always based upon your honest and intentional demonstration of the humility, faith, dependence, and responsiveness that I expect as a caretaker of my things. Prepare for the celebration of my coming to earth by handling my things today as I have taught you.
Luke 2:8-11
That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
December 24
There have been times when I moved you as part of the assignment. Your willingness to act obediently upon my prompting, though you did not understand everything I planned to do, is integral to what you experienced. That same willingness is still required. For there is much work to do. Your sacrificial willingness to obey…your submission to my urging…is your investment into the extension of my grace. I constantly examine your heart for that one thing. Your will to obey is the key to following me on my terms.
Luke 2:4-6
And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.
December 25
Do not be afraid. I am real, and I am what you seek. Allow truth to warm your heart. Rest in it. Hold to it. Depend upon it. I am with you. I am Christmas. Come and see. Come and know. Come and experience my promise with the simple confession: "Yes, I believe.” It changes everything.
Luke 2:10-11
…but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
December 26
The important task for today is to remember the purpose of yesterday. It will be easy for you to move beyond the miracle of my humanity and experience today as a simple return to the everyday business of your life. My challenge is that you intentionally reflect on what you have seen and heard from me. Normal for you must be defined by the reality of your experience with me and by anticipation of what I have planned to come. Following me is not an ebb-and-flow proposition. It is to be constant and intentional. Come close and start the day with me.
Luke 2:20
The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
December 27
What do you think I cannot do? Think back upon our time on this journey when I first moved to define this assignment. You were a young man then and could not have imagined the experiences into which I led you. At each hard stretch, you wondered if I could carry you, and I relieved your question. Now, you tell those stories to other men. Even so, there is much more for you to learn about me. Confess your belief anew and readjust your grip upon my promise. There is work to be done.
1 John 4:15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Matthew 21:22
And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”
December 28
Trust me with this matter. I know your hopes and interests…I created them and have refined them throughout our journey. Have I not provided for them in ways that fulfilled? Pull your attention back to me and the work at hand. I am teaching you how to seek and discover my design and timing. Remain in my presence and experience my revelation unfolding. Then, obediently follow my instructions exactly as I present them. Trust me with what comes next.
Romans 12:1-2
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Exodus 25:40
Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.
December 29
Focus your attention on me before another minute passes. These distractions are merely opportunities to rediscover my strengths and abilities. Yes, even in ordinary responsibilities, I am there, protecting, instructing, guiding, and providing through skills and experience that I created in you. Choose now to live this day in my presence, actively seeking me in each moment and with every task, asking and discerning my way. Then act with the knowledge that you are doing it in my name.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
December 30
You are experiencing my restoration concerning the matter you brought to me. I am revealing my actions to your awareness in these early morning moments. When you approached me on my terms, I responded precisely as I promised: You humbly remained in my presence, sought me earnestly by faith, confessed and turned from sin, and received my forgiveness. Continue to ask and discover. Seek me with every question and each decision point. This is why I placed you there. Confess the reality of my promise, and trust me.
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.
December 31
Come, spend this time with me. Linger here a while longer. I will order the things of the day for you. These moments are essential to the effectiveness you seek. Here is where you learn how to tend to the matters you will face. Here is the peace and confidence you need. Here is wisdom and discernment. Here is where you learn to love another my way. Here is where my Word is applied to your mind. Here is where your will is softened into mine. Here is where I reveal the territory ahead. Yes…linger here and trust me with the day and all beyond it.
Luke 9:23
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.