"Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress." Psalm 4:1 A REFLECTION ON GOING DEEPER "Oh, Lord, I don't understand this way. Surely I have gone wrong and You are not with me. I have no peace." "Up until now you have required understanding to be at peace so I have always given it. I know your frame. But there is a peace which passes understanding which you have not yet known. My child, do you want this?" "Oh, yes, Lord, what must I do?" "You must nail your understanding to the cross if you want to go further with Me. You have leaned on it long enough and you can never lean fully on Me until you let go of it. Nothing hinders Me so much as this. You leave no room for Me to do new things, to be all that I AM in you." "Lord, I'm so afraid. What does this mean about all that you have promised me?" "I AM the Way. Will you follow me even when the way seems to be the death of all those promises? Yes, can you trust Me to fulfill My promises even if I lead you through the valley of the shadow of death?" "Lord, where else can I turn? You alone have the words of eternal life. But it is a hard thing that you ask." "It is through much tribulation that you must enter My Kingdom. The peace that passes understanding comes only through turmoil. So few ever find it. It is here that you must learn to cast all your cares on Me." "They are so many, Lord, I don't know where to start." "Then cast yourself on Me. Underneath are the everlasting arms. Remember the parable of the sower. The different condition of each heart represents not only separate individuals but progressive steps in My preparation of your own heart. Right now your harvest is being choked by the worries and cares of this life. But rejoice! This means you already have a harvest! You may not see it but it is visible to the enemy. And it has good roots or he already would have pulled it up! Now he must try to choke it. His tactics show you your progress. I say it again, rejoice! As you cast yourself on Me, My peace that passes understanding will keep your heart and mind in Me until your harvest comes to fullness. I AM the Lord of the Harvest. And this is the way to My rest." "What about my enemies, Lord? Do I not fight them? Do I just lay back and wait for You to do everything? Is that Your rest?" "To enter My Rest is to enter My Name and all that I AM. It is an active, not a passive thing. Not by works of flesh but by faith. It is to lose self and draw everything from Me. It is only here that I fight for you. But, no, you do not just lay back. That was the mistake that the Israelites made when I swore they could never enter My rest. Unbelief shut them out, but unbelief was really a "What does this mean for me now, Lord?" "Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid. But you must face the giants in your life or you, too, will wander in the wilderness. There is no turning back. You must go forward enter My Rest. There you will stand and see the salvation of the Lord. There I will teach your hands to war. Trust and obey is the theme song of My Rest. David was in My Rest when he fought Goliath in the Name of the Lord of Hosts. I could have killed the giant with My own Hand but it is in and through man that I choose to achieve My Glory." "Oh, Lord, it is good to believe. Help my unbelief." "To every man have I given the measure of faith but to believe is a choice you must make every day. Choose this day whom you will serve." "Lord, I come. I choose You. Lead me in Your Path for Your Name's sake. Take me all the way, Lord. Help me die daily that I might have Your Life today and always. May I do you honor, Lord, by allowing You to arise and achieve your glory in and through me. Amen and amen." We pray this meditation which came out of my distress will speak to your heart and shed His light on your path. And if your way be hard may God enlarge you in your distress and bring you out into His fullness of purpose with shouts of everlasting joy! We love you dearly and continue to remember you with thankfulness and in prayer. God bless you.
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