Small Straws In A Soft Wind - January
 

January 1: Simplicity is a place of strength. When things get too complicated you lose concentration, and you could even lose sight of purpose. Just get down to basics--the essence of who you are and what you must do to express yourself honestly, clearly and understandably. Refuse to allow things in your life to get too complex or tangled, says the Lord. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

January 2: You have questions about how to proceed, and there are complexities involved in your decision-making process. However, I will give you wisdom and guidance if you ask. Ask in complete assurance that I will impart supernatural insights that will take you where you need to go, says the Lord. I hear and answer the prayer of faith. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

January 3: Do not worry about what lies ahead. You have this moment today to make the most of your life. Stay present with Me, says the Lord. Refuse to lag behind by focusing on the past or what might have been. And, resist the temptation to project out into the future. Whatever you presume for the days ahead will not be what you think. Live in the truth of where you are now. Matthew 6:34a Therefore do not worry about tomorrow.

January 4: Sometimes you forget about my grace. You have My full acceptance and favor when you belong to Me. And, I will help you and empower you to go through difficulties that arise. Rely on Me to guide you through the maze of confusion and bring you to a place of supernatural strength, says the Lord. You are precious to Me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

January 5: I am with you to guide you into My will and purpose for you. Do not be afraid. I will speak to you in ways that are easy for you to understand. And, I will direct you. However, you must position yourself to be sensitive to My Spirit. Spiritual awareness is developed as you spend time in My presence, says the Lord. Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.

January 6: Stay the course, says the Lord. I will provide you with rare and valuable opportunities to establish your relationship with Me that will surpass your greatest expectations. You must also watch for the pitfalls along the way that would keep you from your maximum spiritual potential. Deception abounds in the earth, which if you believe the lies, will keep you from clarity and truth. James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

January 7: In much the same way that you would position yourself and do the work to receive a promotion in the natural realm, it is My desire that you take your place spiritually and do all that is necessary to receive the greatest benefits of My kingdom, says the Lord. This positioning will take thought and deliberate effort as well as strength of desire and purpose, but you will not regret it. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

January 8: Be at peace and insulate yourself from those who stir up strife and cause contention. You can only maintain genuine peace when you abide in Me, says the Lord. Keep the truth of My word close to your heart so that you can develop proper perspective and see with clarity, says the Lord. Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

January 9: I had a vision of Jacob's Ladder with angels ascending and descending. It was as though they were in a dance. There was a constant stream of those going up as they passed those coming down. It was a very graceful and beautiful flow. And, the Lord said, "I want you to know that I send angels to minister to you in your times of need. You are not alone." Psalm 91:9-11 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

January 10: Beloved, it is My desire that you would reach a level of being habitually conscious of My Spirit. That is to walk and live in the Spirit and never deviate from being one with Me, says the Lord. This will take deliberate effort and determination in the beginning, but if you persist it will become as natural as breathing. John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

January 11: I speak to those who cannot seem to break out of old cycles of existence. You are willing to move on, but you are also afraid to take the next step for fear of failure. This is a time when I will open doors of opportunity, but you cannot seek My face or hear My voice in your current condition. Fear involves torment, but it will take faith to proceed. It is impossible for you to live in faith and fear at the same time. You must choose, says the Lord. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

January 12: I am looking for those who will become true seekers in My kingdom. I am searching throughout the earth to see who desires to come into My presence. You have to take the first small step in My direction, and I will take a giant step to meet with you, says the Lord. You must believe that I exist and that I care for you. Then, you can come. Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

January 13: I speak to many who have become discouraged and disheartened. You have begun to lose hope, but I tell you that your hope cannot be in human endeavor or worldly expectation. Your hope is only fulfilled through your faith as you strive to maintain eternal perspective. Your heart will be revived in your connection to Me in Spirit, says the Lord. Psalms 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

January 14: Do not limit yourself. You are able to do far more than you ever thought you could, but you must first believe that you can accomplish all that I have set before you. I would have you get at the root of every limitation, and isolate the foundation of the lie that has created unbelief. This is most certainly a work of the enemy against your soul to keep you from divine potential, says the Lord. Break out and break forth! Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

January 15: I am doing a deep and profound work in your heart, says the Lord, which will take you to new heights spiritually. It is time for you to progress beyond where you settled for less than is possible. Discouragement has taken a toll and at times has even paralyzed you. Now you must get up. Shake off your self-imposed limitations. Take the first step in becoming the best version of yourself that you can be. Deuteronomy 1:21 Look, the Lord your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the Lord God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged.

January 16: While in the Spirit, I felt the rhythmic motion of being rocked by waves. Then, I could see that I was in a small boat on a body of water in the middle of a beautiful landscape. And, the Lord showed me that it was an example of being one with Him. I was one with the boat, the boat was one with the water, and the water was one with the landscape. The boat was a symbol of Jesus, the water was the Holy Spirit, and the landscape was God the Father. Nice! John 17:21 ...that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

January 17: Many of you are on the absolute threshold of a greater understanding of My kingdom, which is necessary in developing a genuine relationship with Me, says the Lord. But, you must push past spiritual laziness that becomes an anchor to your soul that restricts curiosity. It will take desire and great effort to overcome complacency, but the end of that journey will be worth your time. Proverbs 15:19 The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway.

January 18: Take the time to delineate spiritual reality, and set yourself to stay in the light and truth. Be done with deception and darkness. If your desire is to be transformed into My image, you must forget about the past and focus on that which is spiritually relevant and eternal. Embrace all that is godly, says the Lord. Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

January 19: I speak to those who have been traumatized by the things you have endured, and I say to you that I am your Healer. Allow Me to bring comfort and to give you the strength to move beyond the pain. You will always remember what happened to you, but it will not always hurt. Set your mind and heart on rising above the things of the earth to walk and live in the Spirit, says the Lord. Isaiah 60:2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.

January 20: Deliberately come into peace as you release yourself from stress. Step onto the firm foundation of faith in My word, in My kingdom, and in your relationship with Me, says the Lord. When your foundation is solid everything that you build will reflect that same fundamental power. Your position in Me will bring you to a position of life and strength. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

January 21: I see My sheep scattered and unable to focus. Too many things to consider and circumstances to deal with will spread you too thin and wear you out. Gather yourself up, prioritize, and get focused on what really matters. Guard your personal boundaries so that other people don't exploit or take advantage of your time or energy. But you will also have to separate the legitimate draw on your resources from the frivolous and unnecessary, says the Lord. Set a watch. Nahum 2:1 He who scatters has come up before your face. Man the fort! Watch the road! Strengthen your flanks! Fortify your power mightily.

January 22: I am aware of your restlessness, which comes from the atmosphere being somewhat stagnant. Use this time to put down roots, to dig deep in search of divine mysteries. Come close to Me, says the Lord. Let Me speak to your heart and reveal spiritual truth. Let us have sweet communion. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

January 23: Do not allow complacency to interfere with the spiritual work being done in your life. I will bring conviction regarding issues where you must change your mind in order to get on the right track. Stubborn refusal to give up fleshly attitudes and motivations will result in your getting stuck spiritually. You cannot progress until you deal with these issues, says the Lord. Quiet your soul and allow Me to lead you forward. Psalm 81:12 So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.

January 24: Stay calm when you are faced with difficult circumstances. You cannot be led by My Spirit unless you are quiet enough to be directed. Fear is the first sign that you are not connected to Me, says the Lord. It is imperative that you rise above emotional responses to a position of faith so that I can show you the way and direct your steps. Trust! 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

January 25: In a vision I saw a man launch himself off a cliff with a paraglider. He seemed to be falling, presumably to his death, but then he caught a thermal and was lifted up to soar above the land. And, I heard the Lord say, "Many of My people have launched themselves into things that seem to be failing, but I tell you honestly that I am with you to cause you to rise above failure into a position of victory." 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

January 26: Be alert and watch for doors to open that have been closed for some time. You can now move ahead in unexpected and surprising ways. Do not be afraid of getting off track. I am leading you in ways that will be greatly beneficial to you. Never forget that I am with you and for you, says the Lord. Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

January 27: Give yourself a break. Take the time necessary to relieve yourself from all stress, and rest in My presence, says the Lord. In My presence in peace and joy instead of the turmoil that comes from worldliness. Stop and just breathe and relax. Then, when you need to deal with circumstances, I will take you through with ease. Lean on Me. Acts 3:19 "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

January 28: Set your heart, your faith, and your will to receive all that I have promised. All that I have made available through the plan of redemption is yours to have for yourself. But, you must settle that issue in your own heart and to know that My love and blessings are not just for a chosen few, but for all who believe, says the Lord. Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him."

January 29: Do not be drawn off course by focusing on Spirit manifestations. Evidence of My presence will be present when you seek to know Me. When you only look to find the demonstration and proof of My existence in the natural realm, you miss the true power of relationship with Me in your life, says the Lord. Set yourself to know Me. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

January 30: Life's trouble offers teaching moments for you to see and learn. Difficult circumstances give opportunities to overcome and to grow spiritually. Nothing is wasted in My kingdom. Your choices in life produce results. What you must consider is whether or not you have faith in Me to bring you through to the optimum eternal outcome. I tell you honestly that you can trust Me, says the Lord. Mark 11:22 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God."

January 31: Maintain your confidence in Me, says the Lord. The enemy would have you condemn yourself for falling short of self-imposed goals. But, this will only serve to get you out of the flow of the Spirit. You must repent--change your mind--and receive My forgiveness and then forgive yourself and begin again. Rise up and walk in the Spirit. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.