Tag Archives: Zachary Bauer
The Oil of Gladness
The Oil of Gladness
(#121 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore the Mighty One, Your Mighty One, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions. (Psalm 45:7)
“The oil of gladness!” These words Father, these themes You present to the mind, I never before understood what such a phrase could mean. It was not until I reached this new level of depravity, bone shaking depravity, gasping for air, and holding onto what life I had left that I could begin to understand. My prayers, Father, are for release. Everything I write is for Your eyes Father; the cry of my soul is for Your ears Daddy. My fears and hope, my pain and praise, are all for You.
As these words go on paper, I ache with thoughts of despair; I cry out, emptying myself. I’m a drink offering poured out, but like David, “I will present my thank offering to You.” Herein, have I found the oil of gladness in place of mourning (Isaiah 61:3)? And this much I know, and for this I must exclaim, “Though You slay me, I will trust in You always.” (Job 13:15)
I will sing to You a new song. I will sing words of gratitude released from a Spirit deep within, not from my flesh. A choice had to be made. Embrace the despair, or sing to You with praise and thanksgiving. I walked; I sang; and even as the pain longed to return, I read, “Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know the Mighty One is for me.” (Psalm 56:9)
It is as if I am afraid to say this, but the process has brought back gladness, like a doorway to an unknown place, an unfamiliar place. Can it be so simple? I must, I must test. I must testify. More Father! I will offer more thank offerings. Take Me to Your river of joy and wash me fresh and new. Show me the way everlasting, the pattern of joy and hope even when hell (my “self” desire) stands before me. Though You slay me…
Oh Yahweh, I have only drunk but a little. I still thirst Father. More Abba, more.
He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our Mighty One; many will see it and fear, and will trust in Yahweh. (Psalm 40:3)
Whom do you serve?
Enticement to Slavery
(#119 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Where in My word have I given you dominion over another? From where do you fabricate these ideologies that imprison all mankind? Of course you are void of answers, as there is no spiritually intelligent answer for these questions. Any answer, well thought out, should leave one ashamed for falling into such a matrix of human error.
Have I asked you to be kings in the way you interpret kingship? It is you who asked for kings (carnally dominant mindsets) to rule over you (1 Samuel 8:5). I honored your request so you would experience the absolute foolishness of your desires. Yet you failed to see it! To this day you continue to feed the very system you asked for, when all this system does is keep you in slavery (Read all of 1 Samuel 8). It is simply fear that drives your man-made device, and yet you embrace it as if this system protects you. I will certainly show you the end result of your desire to be ruled over. My word discusses it. It is called the eighth beast empire (Revelation 17:8-11). It is the worst man has ever seen. It will come to swallow up even those who believe such rulership and government is of Me. It will destroy all those who follow after it, including many of My own children who failed to heed My revelation long ago that it would happen.
In your crafty design of governing authorities, you have managed to produce paupers and dictators. Both feed off each other in fear and have come to be comfortable in this way of life. You have convinced yourself that it is My will for you. Oh My dear little ones, how could I ask you to submit to something that bears no resemblance of My rulership? Although I use wicked men for My purposes, I never asked you to honor them! I command that you give honor where honor is due, not where it isn’t! (Romans 13:7)
I wish to reveal a secret for you. This matrix in your mind is easily corrected if you would just look at My family for a moment. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit have only one way of interacting. We only seek the best for and of each other. There is no other way with Us. There is only perfection and the beautiful blend of all that emanates from perfection. Why would I change perfect government? Perfect government satisfies each soul completely. It does not rule by majority, has no opposing parties, and nothing but complete individual freedom, all while giving every other “family” member the same freedom. Oh My children, I will bring you back to perfect government. I only wish you would have realized yourselves what I offered all along. Now, free your mind. The matrix is easily solved if you just remove the fear. Ask Us to help. We are always willing. And might We remind you that Our government (the perfect conscience; the mind of Yahweh) is the same yesterday, today and forever? (Hebrews 13:8)
“Be careful, or your hearts [minds] will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
This New Thing
This New Thing
(#118 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Growing in you,
You, growing in Me,
A Spirit rising,
Light pushing out darkness,
Inside of you.
Chemicals shift,
Thought processes change,
Mindsets shatter.
Intense, yet reserved…?
Intense, yet reserved? What is this thing still lingering, this reservation? It is the core issue, no? Is it the piece of flesh You left behind in me Father? Must it remain? Will it always be? My heart (mind) explodes with a longing to rejoice in a victory that has not yet been fully attained. Should I? Should I fully rejoice while there is work yet to be done? Is the reservation smart, wise, and Spirit led? There is a voice saying, “Is it real; is it really You Father?” Is this reservation doubt? Is it wisdom? It feels safe, yet it feels doubtful.
Root it out Father. I desire true freedom, a deeper freedom. I desire the unreserved freedom of a warrior kneeling before You, handing over his sword, or a maiden who realizes that You are the only true Husband. I desire to be submitted to You in everything, along with the wisdom to not boast in my own efforts. Fill me with a heart that only wants to boast of Your work in me. “He did this. Look. Look at my Daddy. He will never let you hurt me.”
Tears flow as I write this. As my pen hits paper, the boy in me realizes that I could never have uttered those words about my earthly father. How could I say such words about one who hurt, rather than protected my little heart? I forgive him, and I need him to forgive me. There is a great love today, yet I wonder if the tentacles of reservation still remain.
No Father, these reservations are not smart, wise, or Spirit lead. It is time to step over into a new place; into a new thing where, for the first time in my life, I get personal proof that I have a Father Who protects and does not hurt. I have a Daddy who will not discard me, even when I am not worthy of love. I can live a new life with no more rejection, only pure love from the Father of love, forever.
What is this reservation in me? Come Daddy. Come.
For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalm 107:9)
Listen and Follow Yahweh
Not You, But Me
(#117 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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Why do you miss My voice? Why do you think you can’t hear Me every hour of every day? I’m not speaking to you. I speak Spirit things only, things pertaining to life, holiness and righteousness. I speak directly to the Spirit I placed in you. And when you listen with the ears of the flesh you cannot hear My voice. My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27) My sheep also hear other voices. Lust has a voice. Idolatry has a voice. Greed has a voice. Pride has a voice.
By now, you should understand that I use patterns to teach you. These patterns are not meant to be mysterious; on the contrary, they are intended to be traceable and detectable. It is no different here. Listen to Me My child. It may be a still small voice I speak with, but a quieted mind focused on Me will hear loud and clear. I don’t give rocks (difficult to understand precepts) when you ask for manna (spiritual food) (Matthew 7:7-11). Have I not told you that I know what you need before you ask? (Philippians 4:19) I Am speaking to you at every moment. I Am always here; always concerned; always ahead of you with good things planned.
I have this desire for you, and although I Am always surrounding you, making your path straight (Proverbs 16:9), I would love if you kept up. Time is short. Blessings are delayed by indifference to My voice. Listen according to My will. Listen with the Spirit I placed in you. My language is the language of love, but do not forget; My love demands chastening when chastening is necessary. You can end all doubt of Me by confessing all doubt of Me. This is how I heal you. You confess; I heal. It’s just between us. Come to Me and we will have victory, together, as One.
My Voice is Your WILLingness
My Voice is Your WILLingness
(#116 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
www.sufferwell.org“Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit. In other words, train yourself until what comes naturally to you expresses itself as reverence for the Almighty and all He calls sacred or worthy of veneration. This is what it means to truly seek of the heart of Yahweh (1 Timothy 4:7).”
Oh how much joy it brings Me, My plans being fulfilled. I always get what I want and what I want is always good (Romans 8:28). It is glory for Me and mercy and grace for you. I have a plan; it is a deliberate pattern. It is seen in the word, through My Son. It is also written in the word, through My Torah. I will sum it up; I know it will help you.
The stricter your obedience, the more distinct My voice becomes! The more effort you put into knowing Me, the more I reveal Myself. “Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16) The more you give Me your heart (mind), the more I mold it to increase its capacity to love. “Draw near to the Mighty One and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
I know you understand; it is My Spirit in you that I Am speaking to (Romans 8:9). My words are true and they will inspire your effort! Your reward: an everlasting conscience that is free of sin.
How much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to the Almighty, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Mighty One? (Hebrews 9:14)
Obedience To Yahweh
Food
(#115 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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All “food” is clean.
Who gets to define what food is?
See Leviticus 11, the entire chapter.
A few facts derived from Leviticus 11:
* Yahweh defines what food is, not man;
* Anything not named to be eaten is NOT food;
* Your desire to name something as a food, when Yahweh says it’s NOT, is sinful;
* Is defining food about redemption? Of course not. Is it about your wellbeing? Absolutely! The Good Father nourishes His children well;
* No! The Old Covenant cannot define what food is, and then it be changed in the New Covenant. Hint: Peter’s vision with all sorts of creatures in the sheet was about the gentiles not being called unclean. Be a Berean; search the Scriptures to see if what we are saying is true (Acts 17:11-12). Read all of Acts 10, not just a part of it. Specifically notice verse 28! “Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But the Almighty has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean”;
* Yes! That means eating pork and shellfish is against the commands of Yahweh. Please see verses 46 and 47 of Leviticus chapter 11. “This is the law of the animals and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, you must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, and between the animal that may be eaten and the animal that may not be eaten.” And yes, the “you must” means YOU MUST!;
* If it needs to be said, knowing the heart (mind) of man, “Pork and shellfish contain toxins that are extremely carcinogenic.” Yes, very cancer causing. Perhaps that’s why Yahweh says, “You shall not!” It is NOT food and He cares for you.
Just Passing Through
Temporary Home
(#112 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“Hear my prayer, O Yahweh, and listen to my cry; do not be silent at my weeping; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.” (Psalm 39:12)
Run. Run. Run.
Find home.
Mansions waiting,
Family waiting,
Rest ahead,
Eternal rest.
I was not meant to stay here.
A sojourner, peculiar, different;
I don’t belong here.
Passing through,
Heading towards the eternal,
Shadows in the temporal.
Peace always within,
Never found outside.
Looking outside is foreign.
Always heading to one destination,
A traveler,
Many stops on the way.
A tour guide,
Knowing others will follow.
Wives and children follow.
A path finder,
A navigator,
Others follow,
Decisions made,
Not just for me.
Narrow roads,
Stormy weather,
Perseverance and patience,
Directions sparse at times,
My GPS, a still small voice,
“Go here, go there,”
An Invisible guide, moving like the wind.
A forerunner,
Straight paths lay before me.
A follower,
Being led,
Having plans,
Yet, submitting to the guide
At moment’s notice.
Eternal heart,
Temporal body,
Tired, yet capable.
Nourished by food,
The Spirit’s delicacies,
Press on. Press on!
Unseen, yet known,
A finish line ahead.
Moving forward,
Eternal…
Listen To Yahweh
7000
(#110 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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“But the Mighty One replied to him, ‘I have reserved for Myself, seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal (the Lord; ego).’” (Romans 11:4)
Oh My child, what do you think I meant when I said, “I have reserved?” Does this mean I actually have seven thousand who do My will perfectly, or is it that there are seven thousand I perfect? Yes, I know you. There is a big difference between My hand doing it and it being done by the hand of man. Remember I said that it was, “not by might nor by power” of the carnally minded, which should have given you illumination into My predestined plans. But, it is “by My Spirit!” (Zechariah 4:6)
Many of My children fight Me on this pattern, this principle. It is a losing battle indeed. How they long to believe their own decisions would lead them to perfection. Have I not told you, “There is none righteous?” (Psalm 53:3) Give Me your ears (understanding) and your eyes (perceptions) My child. My pattern, an everlasting pattern, is one that reveals My Sovereignty. How long will you compete with My glory? How long will you trust in your chariots (personal ideas and self-reliance) and horses (personal power)? Have I not told you, “The battle is mine?” (1 Samuel 17:47) Your job, My child, is to hand the battles to Me. Detect the problem and hand it to Me; then leave it with Me!
Yes My child; it sounds so easy. Yet, you fight Me on it at every turn. The real battle I want you to fight is the one warring internally. Your choice is to follow your flesh or My Spirit (Romans 8:9). The power I have given you is the power to root out all that is not of Me and hand it over. I am your Father; I will protect you. I remove nations (constructs of thought processes) for My children. I root out and destroy all that burdens you. All I ask is that you not attempt to steal My glory. I won’t let you anyway, and all it will cause is the necessity that I chasten you. These patterns are Mine! Now, go ahead and submit and find the path to the life I have for you. What do you have that was not received from Me anyway? Give in; I’m waiting.
Divine Discipline
Bound and Released
(#108 from Suffer Well Devotional Series©)
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For Yahweh has bound all men over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on many. (Romans 11:32)
Yes My child, this is how I left you, shackled and bound. I cannot release you until you fully understand where you are. Only a prisoner truly rejoices in freedom. Only a prisoner understands his limitations. Confess to Me. Tell me you understand that you start in prison and move on from there. Tell Me that you perceive your complete inability to break the chains on your own, at all! And may I remind you that these chains are of your own doing, the works of your own hands (mental grasping) and heart (center of intellect).
In order for Me to truly set you free, you must see your prison. You must understand prison was a choice you made and would continually make, apart from My mercy. Your heart will only ever confine you.
Rejoice, for My mercy has overcome your judgment of death. My mercy removes the shackles. My mercy puts a new song in your heart. From the pit (self-reliant thoughts) to the palace (unity of heavenly thoughts), I will bring you. I will then release you to do My will on the earth. You will operate in obedience and you will come to love My plan for you.
Yes, this is another pattern, an unshakeable pattern. You confess your lack; I bring My power and provision. You will never be able to conquer on your own. On your own, your choice is to gratify “self.” Yes, just like Adam, you will always disobey. Yes, on your own you only gratify yourself. Tell Me you see the bars that surround you. Tell Me you can hear the shackles that bind you. Only then can we begin the work. I have an eager expectation for you. Now let’s go!