Small Straws In A Soft Wind - August
 

August 1: Do not despair. Things are not as they seem. It is not as bleak as you think. It feels ominous, but I know the end from the beginning, and I will cause you to have experiences that will prepare you for the unfolding of My will. Do not be afraid or disappointed. You belong to Me, and I know more about what you need than you do. Trust Me with your future, says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."

August 2: When things seem to be falling apart--not making sense. Be quiet and do not allow worry or fear to dictate your actions. Come to Me for wisdom and clarity. Exercise your faith to know that I will show you what to do and the way you should go. Wait for My leading, says the Lord. Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

August 3: There are challenges that you must work your way through, but it is My desire that you confront those issues without getting into conflict. Refuse to play the blame game, but rather seek to find what it is in yourself that needs to be brought into divine order. Only through maintaining peace will you gain the understanding necessary to overcome, says the Lord. Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

August 4: You can find a sense of freedom when you stay close to Me, says the Lord. As you walk in the Spirit you will become aware that you are flowing free. Submit to Me, and I will take you to places you never dreamed possible. You will be delighted with new-found liberty as you trust Me to steer you in the right direction. John 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

August 5: The old season is beginning to wind down. This process has to be complete before you gear up for the next move of My Spirit, says the Lord. This is a time to clean up and clear up lingering issues of the past two years in order to be ready for what is next. Search your heart and mind to know what needs to be done. Galatians 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

August 6: Take it slow and easy. Do not be hasty, but rather be thorough, and I will lead you through this maze of confusion and chaos into a solid victory, says the Lord. Be deliberate in your decisions by choosing righteousness, peace and joy in My Spirit. Pay attention to the checks in your spirit man that require you to stop before you make a mistake in judgment or put yourself in harm's way. I am with you to direct and protect you. Trust Me. Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

August 7: Your spiritual journey is not measured in days, weeks or months. It is measured by acts of obedience. There are vital principles that must be conceived of and implemented before you can move to the next level. Ask Me to give you understanding of the work being done in you at this moment so that you can more completely cooperate with what I am doing, says the Lord. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

August 8: Be aware that what you experience in your carnal existence will provide opportunities to learn and grow spiritually. It is up to you to make the most of your encounters and observations of events as they happen. Even though you live life in a carnal body, you can also live and walk in the Spirit, says the Lord. Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

August 9: I speak to those who have a tendency to judge and criticize people around you. Be aware that if you are critical you will be criticized. It is a product of the spiritual law of sowing and reaping. If you do not want to be judged, you must be willing to overlook what you consider to be flaws in them and know that I love them as I love you, says the Lord. Luke 6:41-42 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye," when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

August 10: Prepare for more change as destiny unfolds both for individuals and nations. Now is the time when you personally need to reevaluate the things that really matter in your life and weed out that which has become a nuisance to your existence, says the Lord. I will help you with that evaluation by giving you extraordinary wisdom. Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

August 11: Beloved, I don't want you to lament your failures or celebrate your successes; I want you to stay focused on Me and eternal things. It is too easy to dump down into self-condemnation and rise up into pride because of the way you navigate your circumstances. This is vanity and grasping for the wind. Keep you mind on the Kingdom, which has the greatest value, says the Lord. 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

August 12: When you ask for wisdom and direction, do not be afraid that you will not receive it. Your fear puts you in a position of being double-minded, and you will most certainly not receive. Rather, ask for wisdom and be confident that I will give you what you ask and will show you the way, says the Lord. It is My good pleasure to speak to you in ways that you can understand. Be bold. Psalms 138:3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.

August 13: There are still things in your life that are out of sync with the flow of My Spirit, but I will give you wisdom and direction that will bring these things into complete order. You must, however, be obedient to My leading and not resist change. Change is the order of this season, both small and great, before you can move into the perfection of the next phase. Keep your heart and your spiritual ears open and ready to yield, says the Lord. Proverbs 4:12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

August 14: When you come into My presence, you must do so quietly and tenderly--your mind and emotions calm and still. Enter in with a heart to perceive and ready to receive that which I want to impart, says the Lord. Leave everything behind except your desire to know Me. Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

August 15: I am reminded of two visions that were given to me recently. One was of someone standing on the pivotal point of a teeter-totter trying to keep it in a horizontal position. The other was a man crossing a deep chasm using two logs as a bridge. There were two key elements required--focus and balance. And, I heard the Lord say, "It will be vital for you to keep Me in view as your central point of attention while maintaining solid footing and equilibrium. Be steadfast." Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.

August 16: Do not underestimate your position in the Kingdom. Many of you feel like you are ineffective and even expendable. You may not be called to reach multitudes with the Gospel, but you can establish righteousness and peace where you are. You can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in everything you are and do, says the Lord. You can bring love where there is hatred, truth where there is deception, and acceptance for all people. You can make a difference. Galatians 5:22-23a But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

August 17: It is My desire that you continue to advance in spiritual understanding and discernment. But, your human sympathies and focus on worldly issues will impede your progress. You must strive to be focused on being one with Me. Only then will you be able to stay on track spiritually. Refuse to allow anyone or anything to derail you from eternal purpose, says the Lord. Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

August 18: If you need wisdom, ask Me. You can ask a number of other people, and they will all give you an opinion based on their own ideas and intellect. But, if you ask Me, I will give you truth as it relates to your spiritual and natural condition. Don't be afraid to appear in My presence to ask for whatever you need, says the Lord. Luke 11:9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

August 19: Take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself to be kind and considerate of your fellow human beings. Be generous in your attitudes towards others, and be helpful when you can. But, I say, do this from a heart that has been regenerated through My love for you. Recognize and understand My grace and great mercy, says the Lord. Do not forget that you are being transformed into My image. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

August 20: I had a dream of the end of the world and of spending my last day on the earth, and I heard the Lord say, "I want you to consider where you are spiritually. Are you where you need to be, or do you need to make some adjustments in your priorities? I want you to live every day of the rest of your life considering that it may be your last and being ready for My soon return. Don't spend one more day in complacency." Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

August 21: Press through the darkness, and resist the work of degradation against you and humanity. Continue to push until your existence is found in My kingdom where truth and righteousness prevail. This is all a matter of where you invest your time, energy, thoughts, emotions and will. You do not have to subject yourself to the work of the enemy even though it seems to be pervasive, says the Lord. Romans 11:11-14 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

August 22: Be patient. Your life is a process of singular events. Refuse to get short-sighted and focused on what you would like to see happen now. Trust Me to orchestrate your steps that will produce a result that will reflect divine order in your life, says the Lord. Relax and enjoy the journey. James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

August 23: Look for Me, says the Lord. Come to Me. Allow me to strengthen your spirit, soul, and body. I will rejuvenate you and bring satisfaction akin to a full meal for a starving man or fresh water for a thirsty soul. Receive healing. Be lifted up and encouraged. I am available to those who earnestly seek. Psalm 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart!

August 24: You can change your life's course and destination by giving more attention to that which is in agreement with My will and purposes. Set you mind on things that will build you up instead of things that will tear you down. Establish yourself in hope and be done with discouragement and despair, says the Lord. For, I am truly with you to bring you to a place of victory over self-destruction. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

August 25: To those who feel like you are in the doldrums with no wind in your sails and that you're not getting anywhere, settle down. Everything is happening in a perfect timing that you cannot understand yet. There are things that need to come into line with My plans and purposes before you can move forward, says the Lord. Be patient. Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

August 26: Look to your circumstances to see what is broken, for there is a parallel condition spiritually. I am showing you signs in the natural that mirror your spiritual state. Make the necessary adjustments on all levels so that your life will be in good working order, says the Lord. You will be able to perceive the reflection of the unseen realm through what you can actually see. Psalms 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy on us.

August 27: I see your heart, and I know that as much as you try to lift yourself up and be strong that there is still uncertainty and even a measure of instability in your soul. But, I say to you, that I am your strength. I am your very present help in times of trouble. You cannot accomplish what you desire by the strength of your own soul. You must allow Me to undertake on your behalf, says the Lord. Let Me do what you cannot do. Lean on Me and trust in My help. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

August 28: Your journey has been long and arduous, but I tell you honestly that you will begin to experience breakthrough. It will be in small things at first as you gain confidence and strength to move forward. Stay with what you know to be right and good. Seek to know Me more profoundly than ever, says the Lord. I am with you! John 14:17 "The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."

August 29: I want you to recognize that there are things that you can fix or do something about and things that are beyond your reach or control. Learn to know the difference between where you have power and where you do not, says the Lord. And, remember that nothing is impossible for Me. I can do what you can't. Ask Me for help. Ask for wisdom and direction. Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing will be impossible."

August 30: If you will allow it, I will take you to places in spirit that you need to see and understand. The things that I show you will bring clarity to positions of hopelessness and despair. New revelation of where you are and where you have been will restore hope, and you will again place your faith and trust in Me, says the Lord. I am the solid rock on which you can stand. Psalms 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

August 31: Step back and take a broad view of where you are spiritually and how you got here. Renew yourself in the foundation of what you believe for the purpose of examination to see if you have strayed from that which you value the most. Do not compromise those elements of vital spiritual importance, but rather reinforce what you know to be righteous, says the Lord. You belong to Me! Isaiah 43:1b "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine."