I Thessalonians 5:16-18; Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I remember listening to a preacher once who said that sometimes you just need to praise God on credit! I thought that was a bit on the crazy side because, who does that? Who thanks God for things they don’t have yet? He even said that when he gets bad news, he goes into his office and does a praise dance. He has trained himself to praise in good times and bad, whether he ‘feels’ it or not.

Sunday morning while getting ready for church, I heard the Lord tell me that people spend way too much time in the ‘flesh’ realm. I was about to comment, ‘Hello! You made us flesh, where else are we suppose to live?’ But as quickly as I thought it, He responded, ‘They are spirit, they dwell in a body. They were meant to live in the spirit realm bringing heaven to earth.’ Wait a minute! WE are to bring heaven to earth? I thought that was YOUR job. ‘The more time you spend with me, learning my ways, seeing how I operate, you’ll understand that I designed man to be a carrier of my glory to the earth. I don’t work like you do. Everything I do comes from a place of rest. I merely speak it and it comes to pass. You are to spend more time in my realm with me, learning to rest, learning to trust and to speak as I do.’

Wow! That really blew me away. You’re right, God. I spend too much time in my flesh realm, thinking like man. I’ve allowed the ways of this world and the things of this world to limit me to what I naturally see instead of what I see in my spirit. Nothing is impossible with you, God, and because nothing is impossible with you, nothing is impossible for me in You. When I speak your Word, the natural realm must respond to it. It doesn’t mean the Word won’t be tested because we know that satan comes immediately to steal the Word that was planted in our heart. But when we resist the enemy, he will flee.

I’m challenged to spend more time with you, Lord. I’m tired of living the same but expecting different results. If my results are to change, my thinking must change and if my thinking is to change, I must exchange it for the mind of Christ. I will meditate on your Word and spend more time with you so that when my spirit leaves this body, it’s merely returning to where I’ve already been. In your presence is fullness of joy, so I will inform my flesh to be thankful for what Your Word holds for me. 

You’ll please excuse me. I must go to my secret place for some Father/daughter time.