Tag Archives: Yahshua
Narrow Minded
Narrow Minded
(#271 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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And when they had preached the good news to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls [mind, will, and emotions] of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of the Mighty One.” (Acts 14:21-22)
When you think of tribulation, think: narrow, tight, closely pressed, distressed, restricted, or even “of straitened circumstances.” These would be the appropriate thought forms that the word “tribulation” is intended to invoke in the Hebrew mindset. In other words, “Let Me strengthen your mind by training you to restrict your choice of thoughts. Let Me teach you the narrow range of thoughts available to the mind being renewed.” It is a limited selection, no veering off to the right or left, but a straight and determined way of thinking. There is One body and One Spirit, just as you were called in One hope of your calling; One Master, One faith, One baptism; One Mighty One and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (Ephesians 4:4-6) Yes, it is narrow! There is One body with One mind, all having conformed to the mind of Yahweh, conformed to His Holy consciousness.
And why does this teaching and training feel like tribulation? Because tribulation is what you experience as a result of your resistance to the lessons. Tribulation draws its energy from your continual attempts to satisfy personal desire, rather than submit to Yahweh’s will. You have often heard the term “Flesh vs. Spirit.” Let the understanding of this penetrate deeply into your thought life. The resistance, which is your own self-will, is the cause of tribulation. And this will never change unless you decrease and Messiah increases in you. Without Him, your natural state would be corrupt forever. In other words, your need to satisfy yourself would dominate your choices every time. This is the antithesis of the limited choices available to the redeemed mind!
Learn this most Holy of patterns. When you “feel” closely pressed and distressed within your thought world, do not run to carnally safe places, those which only preserve the “self,” but rather, allow the Spirit to do a work in you. Consciously remind yourself that when your thoughts are tight and restricted, it is most likely the Spirit working in you. Learn to wait in silence and patience, so tribulation’s perfect work might be accomplished. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Don’t fret, don’t be anxious, and don’t be impetuous! They that wait upon Yahweh shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) Wait upon Yahweh and let your mind be strengthened.
Why You Must Suffer Well
Suffer Well
(#270 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Yahweh had declared former things from the beginning that He made come to pass, and He had hidden things that He later revealed. All this so you can distinguish His signature from the idols (“self” reliant thoughts) that tempt you. He also knew that you would deal treacherously with His truth, and still He restrained Himself from cutting you off.
Instead, He purifies you in the fire. “See I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake I do this. How can I let myself be defamed [profaned]? I will not yield My glory to another.” (Isaiah: 48:10-11)
What it sounds like when you finally understand; when you are finally free!
“Child.”
“Yes Father.”
“Do you now understand?”
“I believe I do. Can You test me to see?”
“Why do I allow you to suffer?”
“It’s the only way Father.”
“The only way to do what My child?”
“The only way to remove all idols and any thoughts that oppose You.”
“What do you think will happen once the suffering ends child?”
“I will only be able to agree with You Father.”
“So, you think your suffering comes from your resistance to do things My way?”
“Yes Father.”
“Would you suffer all over again, in order to see the things you see now?”
“A thousand times over Father.”
“My dear child, now it’s no longer just a hope and a belief.”
“What do you mean Father?”
“Now you are free because you understand. Now you are free because you know Me. You have suffered well.”
“Thank you Father.”
“Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Perfect Father. Simply perfect.”
Only by HIS Power!
Feeding Frenzy
(#269 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
He rules forever by His power. His eyes watch the nations, lest the rebels exalt themselves. (Psalm 66:7) Selah [ponder this]
If it is His power alone that rules all things, then you would do well to consider how it is you have reached any level of success or authority? “And Yahshua came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore…'” (Matthew 28:18-19) If you have any authority at all, it is because He has passed the mantle to you. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19) Therefore, if you’ve reached the “top” having never followed His leading to get there, then by what “power” did you arrive? “Not by might nor by [your own] power, but by My Spirit,” Says Yahweh of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6)
The author of true power, power which never diminishes, only releases such through His Spirit to the righteous (right thinking). Unfortunately, many of you will convince yourselves that you have been “good enough” to deserve His blessings and power. This personal “goodness” is nothing but a byproduct of “self” deception. “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10, 12) And more so, what does the desire for, or the reliance on, personal power entail? It necessitates the use of tricks and manipulation. If you have “success” and it did not come through His power, then you have hijacked it. And remember, His eyes watch the nations, lest the rebels exalt themselves.
Conversely, if it is the power of Yahweh that has promoted you, then your success will always be accompanied by fruit in your life that has His signature on it: obedience, humility, repentance, and “self” realization. The latter, of course, meaning the realization that the “self” must die to make room for His true power to manifest in you.
What are you feeding on loved one? What desires do you have? Are they rooted and grounded in the perfect life of Yahshua the Messiah? A good way to know is to ask these questions; “Would He have cared about such things?” And, “Would He have done what I did to get them?” There is only one source of power loved one. Everything else is vanity and will be sifted like chaff from amongst the wheat.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled; and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Waiting before Yahweh in Silence
The Master Craft
(#267 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Waiting before Yahweh in silence:
Be of great courage! Wait on Yahweh, and He will strengthen your heart (mind)! Wait I say, on Yahweh! (Psalm 27:14)
And to understand this master craft; the waiting, wouldn’t it be prudent to seek the Hebraic roots of what Yahweh intended when He said, “Wait?” Picture this meaning: to “bind,” to “twist,” to “collect.” These are the intended images; and their substance, of course, is spiritual. Many of you might have thought that the instruction is to wait for what you want when, in fact, the physical manifestation of what you want is not the relevant part.
It’s a matter of consciousness loved one, and the waiting has everything to do with receiving light so that the fragments of darkness (ego) slowly dissipate. Receiving the “Son” is like soaking in the “sun” on a cloudless day at the beach, but the “Son’s Rays” are far more valuable to your eternal mind.
Getting a spiritual “son tan” takes practice. You can determine how well you have developed your craft by going to a silent place and sitting quietly before Him. Clear your mind and see how long you can do just that. We think you will be very surprised at how little time you can sit in absolute silence, and we mean total silence with no thoughts running through your mind. We think you will be surprised at how quickly you want to make requests and petitions, rather than just bask in His glory, for His good pleasure. You have yet to learn that waiting in silence binds His Spirit and your soul together like two twist ties. It is the collection of His essence into your entire being like sun rays that soak into your skin. Learn to be a master craftsman of His presence. Sit quietly, and if you must, simply repeat His name over and over. Whisper “Yah” when you inhale and “weh” when you exhale. And then as your mind clears just silently think: “Yahweh, Yahweh, Yahweh, Yahweh….”
The Wonderful Plan of Yahweh
Sovereignty
(#266 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; and in Your book, all the days [of my life] were written [preordained], even before one [day] came into existence. (Psalm 139:16)
You have My word. For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says Yahweh, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. (Jeremiah 29:11) I give you My word to lean on in times when you think, “There’s nothing good about this life. Everything has gone wrong. Life is a mistake.” The hopelessness your mind indulges in is only an illusion loved one. Yes, you can experience a powerful and, at times, seemingly unconquerable oppression, but it is nevertheless an illusion.
If every moment of your life was ordained by Me before you ever lived one day, and if all that I create and establish is “good,” then what allows for illusions? Listen to Me closely My child; it is your unbelief that causes every ounce of strife in your mind, a lack of faith in Me and My word. Plus you must remember that it is through suffering that you are being perfected. He learned obedience through suffering (Hebrews 5:8). He was made perfect through sufferings. (Hebrews 2:10). The pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in His hand through His suffering (Isaiah 53:10).
If it was the necessary plan for My Son, then you must agree that it is good for you as well. Remember He said to you, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15:20) If you refuse to accept this as the way of your Father in Heaven, your non-conforming mind will stay bound to the ego, and the ego will always end up in thoughts of depravity and death, hence the illusion!
So, today I speak to you to bring healing and with that healing, joy for the life you live. And the “life you live” can be summed up in the “thoughts you think!” As My prophets always do, I call for you to repent; repent of your wrong thinking. Wrong thoughts always lead to wrong actions.
How many times do you witness in My Torah of love (thought instructions) that, on your own, you cannot do what is required. But, I stepped in on your behalf and empowered you to do it. I gave you a renewed heart (Ezekiel 36:26). I Am Sovereign over your sins as well as your spiritual triumphs loved one; and your sins have always been part of My process of transformation. Every single thought is either the manifestation of sin or Spirit. Either way, everything was written in My book long before you existed. Taking each thought captive means repenting of the sinful ones and rejoicing over the spiritual ones I placed in you. This is how the mind transforms until you can no less than say, “It’s a good life; Yahweh has been so merciful to me. It’s a good life!”
Netflix’s “Cuties” is pure evil
Cancel Netflix and their Child pornography films!
Love is the answer
The Tree of Life
(#265 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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The Tree of Life is …. within you! The soil (heart/mind) must be cultivated in order to remove the flaming sword (Yahweh’s judgment) that keeps the Tree from being accessed or bearing much fruit. Think of the flaming sword as being stuck in hard, cement-like, fallow ground. You must break up the fallow ground; it is uncultivated soil from which the tree will not bring forth abundant fruit. (Read Matthew 13:1-23.) Or you might think of it as a tree you cannot climb to taste its goodness.
You must sow righteousness into a circumcised heart which is fertile soil! Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek Yahweh, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12) Break up your fallow ground, and do not sow among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and take away the foreskins of your hearts. (Jeremiah 4:3-4)
Your ego which covers your mind like stringy moss or chokes your heart with thorns, keeps the original essence of the garden (hedged in conscience) from being expressed in you. Do not sow among thorns. Circumcise your heart so the tree (firm, fastened conscience) of life (heavenly nourishment) can grow in fertile soil to its full stature (Ephesians 4:13).
It is your “self” desire that keeps the sword (Yahweh’s judgment) in place. This cuts off your mind’s entrance into the fertile garden and keeps the soil untilled, and therefore prohibits your ability to eat (consciously devour) from the Tree. The Tree grows in the “Garden of Love.” The Garden of Love is the perfect imagery for what fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) the Tree of Life will produce once the “self or ego” is sacrificed. Surrender of “self” fertilizes the soil and grants access to the Garden. And that key to access the Garden, that “surrender,” is love itself; and it never fails to open the gates (1 Corinthians 13:8). The foremost reason it cannot fail is because love is solely committed to doing the will of Yahweh. Love is then expressed through the redeemed mind, the mind of the Messiah in man, and perfected through practice as it eventually annihilates the ego entirely.
Love is the standard by which every thought and action is measured. It is manifested altogether as patience, kindness, admiration, trust, modesty, humility, and meekness. It is gracious, polite, altruistic, peaceful, appeasing, virtuous, joyful, righteous, and truthful. It displays fierce loyalty; believes, hopes, and endures all things; and always succeeds and thrives. (The affirmative side of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Soon you will see it loved one. The Tree of Life is no less than the mind of Yahweh available through your obedience. The effort is the climb and soon you shall again eat of its fruit. We say again! The Tree of Life is the Truth of Life!
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34) Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. (1 John 2:7)
Does God Really Love Me?
My Eliana
(#263 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son [daughter], so Yahweh your Mighty One chastens you. (Deuteronomy 8:5)
Both arms on the table, dark golden brown curls draped over them. Only a portion of her bronzed elbows showing. “Eliana,” I say. “Lift up your head sweetie.” Her saddened eyes and pouty lips slowly lift off her arms. While examining her intense beauty, I ask her, “Does daddy correct you and discipline you because he is angry at you, or because he loves you?” I can see the little brown eyes go deep inside to the place where thoughts are gathered. The pouty lips then reply, “Because you love me?” Unsure if she has answered correctly, she watches as I grab her arms and reply, “Of course it is because I love you. I will always love you. Nothing can ever stop me from loving you more and more every day. That is why I must correct you for your disobedience.”
I quickly search the recesses of my mind and ask myself why she might ever doubt my love for her. Why would she ever perceive my discipline as anger? Why would she not distinguish my correction as my love for her? The answer is quite painful and includes one of those thoughts we all wish to stuff away and forget. It is possible to hide from the answer for a while, but not forever. We all must face it at some time. She perceives anger and not love because my actions have taught her so. Gladly I can say they are past actions that the Spirit has corrected in me, but nonetheless, I must own the responsibility for planting those seeds in her. “Perfect love never fails,” the scripture says (1 Corinthians 13:8), and I have certainly not loved perfectly.
There is another side as well, and that is her part. It is also something at which we all fail. We fail to understand the perfect love Yahweh has towards us. Yes, she is young, but she will soon have to acknowledge what we all must—fear. We all fear perfect love. It is the fear that it could actually be available, especially from the unseen Great I Am. I often try to imagine His love, one that has never been angry at me. Though He expresses emotion, His forgiveness is available all along. The Mighty One demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us. (Romans 5:8) His discipline is always contained within perfect love. We long for perfect love to be real, yet we fear it, perhaps because once we taste its sweetness we will realize how bland everything else is.
This is the love I want my Eliana to see in me and receive from me. But there is no way I can do that until I have received it from Him. I have promised my Heavenly Father that I will not be afraid to attempt it. Perhaps I will have the courage to accept it. Perhaps she and you will also. I could only ever desire to love her perfectly. And if I know how to give good gifts, how much more my Father in Heaven? (Matthew 7:11)
It is the perfect gift Father that my Eliana would hear Your still small voice for all the days of her life whispering; “I love you Eliana. I will never fail you. I will always be here, always want you, always cherish you, and always correct you so that you also will be made perfect in My love. I will always be so very thankful that I made you and that you shall exist eternally.”
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of Yahweh, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom Yahweh loves He chastens, just as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Hebrews 12:3-6 from Proverbs 3:11-12)
Why Christians should celebrate the feasts and holy days of the Old Testament
Why Christians should celebrate the feasts and holy days of the Old Testament
The Forgiver
The Forgiver
(#262 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“Against You [Yahweh], You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight— that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.” (Psalms 51:4)
The depth of understanding this is so profound that it could only be received, believed, and shed abroad, by an adulterer, murderer, liar, schemer, and thief, in other words, someone who suffered for his sin (truly repented), and then experienced Yahweh’s forgiveness. It takes spiritual maturity to understand the words, “Against Yahweh only,” spiritual maturity gained in the valley of humiliation, the place where the ego goes to die. (See Hosea 2:14-15 in devotion # 254.)
And what do we learn from David’s words? When one sinful man fails another, it is a sin against Yahweh. David did not seek forgiveness from those he harmed; he went to the only One who could be sinned against, the Holy One. The entirety of Psalm 51 speaks of David’s genuine repentance for the murder of Uriah and the theft of Bath-Sheba’s purity (2 Samuel 11). Yet, although he harmed another, it was to Yahweh alone he was indebted.
Acknowledging that you are responsible for the murder of His Son (against You only have I sinned) will make you ever cognizant of the price He paid (the place where the ego goes to die), and therefore to whom the debt is owed (repentance).
And when you come to terms with this reality another beautiful pattern emerges. In the midst of this profound revelation a twin revelation is born; “If I only sin against Yahweh, and my sin is ever present except for His Spirit in me, then who in me is actually forgiving others?” And to this question you will once again find that the answer is Yahweh alone. It is against Yahweh alone you sin and it is Yahweh alone who forgives! And because the love of the Almighty has been poured out in our hearts [mind] by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5), you now can forgive others with His Spirit in you.
As you apply this supernatural revelation to all circumstances, you become a vessel through which others can realize the same. The next time someone asks you for your forgiveness, perhaps you might say, “If Yahweh forgives you, that’s all that matters.”