Word of the Day
Introducing Wendy Thomas
Before you read this week’s devotions, I would like to take the time to introduce you to my friend Wendy Thomas. She is an amazing teacher and minister of the Word. She lives in England and has a ministry to the downtrodden and hurting. Her greatest desire is for others to truly know and have a revelation of the Father’s heart love. Out of this desire and call on her life, she has published a Bible study/devotional series called Knowing God As Father. I have developed a deep and abiding relationship with Wendy over the last two years. She has become a trusted and cherished friend whom, I know without a doubt, she hears God in a very personal and profound that shares the heart of the Father. I have asked her to contribute at least once a month to Journals.
It has always been my desire to multiply myself. I will be co-authoring some letters with Wendy for a couple of months, at which time she will be submitting her own. Wendy already walks in the gift of journaling God’s heart is now stepping out to do so in a Journals of the Heart format. I know she will be a blessing to you and it would be so kind for those of you who are registered at Journals to leave her some feedback in the comment section provided at the end of each letter, teaching or devotion.
Beloved, although I never change and I Am the same yesterday, tomorrow and today, I am constantly doing a new thing in your life (Hebrews 13:8). Nothing remains the same and if you are staying the same you are really going backwards! You need to constantly be discovering and experiencing more of My love for you and the closeness we can have. I love you the same as I love My son, Jesus, and I am changing you into His likeness You can have the same relationship with Me that Jesus has…everything He has is yours. You are joint heirs with Him.
Today is a new day for a new thing, and as a result, I want to establish you in new and profound ways so that you are like an oak tree that grows from a tiny acorn into a massive tower of strength…so you can be a refuge in the storm to many. Don’t despise the days of small beginnings. Even a mighty oak grows from a tiny acorn…even faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Isn’t it amazing what I do with so seemingly little? How I love to create, enlarge and grow amazing things from the least expected source.
Child, I know at times you may feel small and insignificant and can do so at any given moment. Don’t let any moment or situation cause you to despise where you are. Instead, remember this. I see you as you will be…a mighty oak of righteousness rooted by the streams of living water that is being supplied with all things needed for instruction and godliness. As you become rooted and established in My love, you will grow tall, strong and secure throughout any storm.
Wake up…look up…be amazed and look forward to the new things that I am doing in your life. Remember, whatever difficulties you face, they will indeed transition for all things eventually pass but I shall always remain. Everything is for a season. There is no need to worry for I establish the seasons and there is a time for everything under the sun. Learn to know the times and discern which season you are in. You wouldn’t wear a raincoat in high summer or shorts in frigid weather.
Therefore, you need to know what I am doing in your life and the season you are in. All seasons are needed for growth to occur so don’t worry when times are hard. A new season of plenty will soon be on its way. You see, just as too much food turns your body to fat, too much ease prevents your growth. It is in the wilderness places that you are drawn to Me for there you have no resources of your own. In your weakness I can and will show My strength. I Am mighty to save and will show Myself strong on your behalf. So, wake up…look up…be amazed and look forward to the future for I have so much in store for you. You will see and experience new depths of My love, for you will be rooted and established as an oak of righteousness which flourishes with fruitfulness. Lift your arms…lift your branches and display My splendor. The time has come.
Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). (Hebrews 13:8 Amplified)
May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; (Ephesians 3:17-18 Amplified)
Prayer
Father, I so want to know the height and depth and width of Your love. Please let me know Your love in all its fullness. Please help me to be rooted and established in Your love so that I may grow strong and secure. Please help me to display Your splendor so others will be drawn to You. Help me to not be fearful of new things but to know that with You I can face anything.
Lord, I declare all my yesterdays to be redeemed…all my today’s to be full of wonder and redemption…all my tomorrows to be full of hope and promise…to be full of unprecedented growth in Christ. I am one who discerns the seasons of life without fear. I always know what to wear in every season for my heart is captivated by the Father who loves me with a daddy kind of love…captivated by Jesus who gave His all for me…and by the Holy Spirit who leads and guides me into all truth. I am one whose roots go deep into the soil of love…deep into the banks of Father’s river to receive nutrients on a moment by moment basis. I am redeemed, set free and fruitful in this life and the life to come. I am an oak of righteousness which gives pleasure to the Lord as He beholds me and I behold Him. I am thankful.
Lord, I do indeed thank You for all Your marvelous promises to me and I look forward to my future with You as I continue to grow in stature, strength and intimacy with You. Amen.
Reflect and Journal
- How do you feel about facing new things (change) in the light of God being the same yesterday, today and tomorrow?
- What personal struggle…personal way of doing and being would you like to see changed the most…see become like Christ Himself? What do you think would be the greatest outcome of this change in relation to your own personal connection to Father and to those you interact with on a daily basis?
- What does it mean to be joint heirs with Christ? How does that make you feel? Take time to tell God how it makes you feel to have Him not only as God but as Daddy (not based on what a natural father might have or have not been but on His Word).
- What season are you in? Ask God to tell you. Once you know, you will better be able to process the circumstance you are in without guilt, shame, presumption and so on. You are where you. The awesome thing about it though is this…no matter where or what season, He is with you just being the SAME as He always has been– gracious, merciful, loving, enduring, steadfast, hopeful, revelatory, provisionary, creative, faithful to the end and in a complete state of ravished adoration over and for you.
JESUS LOVES YOU
Thank you for your journal today, it really touched and spoke to me. God bless you abundantly.