It is not thinking about Me, but dwelling with Me that brings perfect fearlessness.
There can be no fear where I am. Fear was conquered when I conquered all Satanic power. If all My followers knew this, and affirmed it with absolute conviction, there would be no need of armed forces to combat evil.
You have entered now upon a mountain climb. Steep steps lead upward, but your power to help others will be truly marvelous.
Not alone will you arise. All towards whom you now send loving, pitying thoughts will be helped upward by you.
Looking to Me all your thoughts are God-inspired. Act on them and you will be led on. They are not your own impulses but the movement of My Spirit and, obeyed, will bring the answer to your prayers.
Love and Trust. Let no unkind thoughts of any dwell in your hearts, then I can act with all My Spirit-power, with nothing to hinder.
I will lift up mine eyes until the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalm 121:1
Deep life-giving draughts of My Spirit are yours. Think of the aridness, the thirst, that is unquenched till the whole unsatisfied being is age-worn.
Can you help man in any better way than by proving to him that the cleansing waters of My Spirit have power to wash away all that hinders growth, and to satisfy to the full every thirst of your nature?
Be watchful to hear My Voice and instantly to obey. Obedience is your great sign of faith. “Why call ye Me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say” was My word when on earth to the many who followed and heard, but did not do.
I likened the man who heard and did not do to the man who built his house on the sand. In times of storm and trouble he is overthrown, his house falls.
I likened the man who obeyed Me implicitly to the man who built his house upon a rock. In times of storm he is steadfast, immovable.
Do not feel that by this I mean only the keeping of My Commandments, even the living My Sermon on the Mount. I mean more than that to those who know Me intimately. I mean the following, in all, the Inner Guiding that I give, the little injunctions I speak to each individual soul, the wish I express – and desire to have carried out.
The secure, steadfast, immovable life of My disciples, the Rock Home, is not built at a wish, in a moment, but is laid, stone by stone, foundations, walls, roof, by the acts of obedience, the daily following out of My wishes, the loving doing of My will.
He that heareth these sayings of Mine and doeth them is like unto a man who built his house upon a rock, and the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not, for it was founded upon a Rock.
And it is in that Rock-Home, manmade but divinely inspired – the House of Obedience – the truest expression of a disciple’s adoration and worship – it is there I come to dwell with My loved one.
Am I not giving you work, hope? Work for the gray days? Just little plain bricks of duties done and My Wishes carried out. All strengthening you and making of your character that steadfast, immovable Christian Character of which My servant Paul spoke and which he urged his followers to have.
Therefore, now amend your ways and your doings,
and obey the voice of the Lord your God. Jeremiah 26:13
Dear Lord, teach me to obey Thee in all things.
You are Mine, pledged to serve Me.
Every want of yours has been anticipated. Look back and see how each failure has been due to your not having obeyed implicitly the instructions I gave you in preparation for that task or trial.
Listening to My Voice implies obedience. I am a tender Lord of Love, but I am a Captain with whose words there must be no trifling.
You are a volunteer, not conscript, but if you expect the privileges of My Service you must render Me the obedience of that service.
The way of obedience may seem hard and dreary, but the security of My ordered life the untrained soul can never know. March in step with your Captain.
O Lord, we thank Thee for Thy great gift of Peace.
That is the Peace, that only I can give in the midst of a restless world and surrounded by trouble and difficulty. To know that Peace is to have received the stamp of the Kingdom – the mark of the Lord Jesus Christ. My Mark.
When you have learned that Peace you are fit to judge of true values, the values of the Kingdom, and the values of all the world has to offer.
That Peace is loving faith at rest.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.
In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Cultivate the habit of thinking about Me. God is everywhere. My Presence is always with you, but recollection brings consciousness of that Presence and closer friendship.
Deliberately recall some event in My life, some teaching of Mine, some act of love. So you will impress Me upon your character and life.
Your learning and accomplishments are valueless without My Grace, which is sufficient for you. Leave planning to Me. Leave Me to open or close the way.
Prepare yourself for all I am preparing for you.
Offer unto Me the sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High, and then call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you.
To praise and thank and steadily fulfill your promises (vows) to Me are then, as it were, the placing of coin in My Bank, upon which, in your time of need, you can draw with confidence and certainty. Remember that.
The world wonders when it sees the man who can so unexpectedly draw large and unsuspected sums from his bank for his own need, that of a friend, or for some charity.
But what the world has not seen are the countless small sums paid into that bank, earned by faithful work in many ways.
And so in My Kingdom. The world sees the man of faith make a sudden demand upon Me, upon My stores, and lo! that demand is met.
The world thinks the man has magic power – No! the world does not see that the man has been paying in, in thanks and praise, promises fulfilled—faithfully, steadily.
So with you, My children. “Offer to God the sacrifice of Thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High and call upon Me in the day of trouble and I will deliver you.”
This is a promise for the seemingly dull days of little happenings, and a cheer for you, My children. When you seem not able to do big things you can be storing your little acts and words of faithfulness in My Great Storehouse, ready for the day of your big demand.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Hebrews 13:15
Count not these days as lost.
You have, even in this seemingly narrow life, countless opportunities for self-conquest. There is no greater task than that.
I set apart those who greatly desire to reflect Me, because there is danger that in the crowded ways, and among others, self will gain the ascendancy.
For a time, until self is recognized and conquered, you too must withdraw into the wilderness.
You are learning much, and I am your Teacher.
Come with Me into a desert place and rest a while.
Rise above your fears and fancies into My Joy. It will suffice to heal all your sores and wounds. Forget all sense of failure and shortcomings, all the painful jolts and jars, and trust Me, love Me, call upon Me.
Your discipleship is an obstacle race. “So run that ye may obtain.” Obtain not only your hearts’ desires, but obtain Me – your souls’ Joy and Haven.
What would you think of the runner who threw himself on the ground in despondency at his first hurdle?
Over, and on and up. I am your Leader and your goal.
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection;
lest that by any means, when I have preached to others,
I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27
