This is a critical time of year and it can be frustrating with everyone judging one another. And yet, when we see criticism as a blessing (it points out how we can become better - AND THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF OUR VISIT HERE) then it doesn't hurt as much. You even look for it.
Welcome it today. Ask people - especially the ones you don't like - to tell you what's wrong with you. When you're done judging them back for having the nerve to say that to you, pick out the kernels of truth and go to work.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "Provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor" (Isaiah 61:3, NIV)
TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria What are you wearing today? Not on your physical body, but what's covering your mind and emotions? Are you clothed with despair and disappointment? Are you wearing "heaviness"?
If you've recently gone through a hurtful or disappointing situation, the Bible says there is a time to grieve. It's important to go through that process and release the hurt to God. But the Bible also says that God wants to give you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness or despair. He wants to exchange your hurt for His healing. He wants to fill you with His peace and joy.
Are the garments of yesterday holding you back and weighing you down? Maybe it's time to exchange that heaviness for His garment of praise. Maybe it's time to release those heavy burdens. It's time to forgive those who have hurt you and begin to praise your way to victory! Just start right now by thanking Him for the life you have today. Thank Him for the opportunities today has to offer. Thank Him for the beautiful sunrise. When you wear that garment of praise, you'll stand strong and display His splendor all the days of your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY "Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You asking that You take my old, heavy garments of despair and heaviness. Make me new today. Give me a garment of praise so that I can be a display of Your glory and splendor. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Anybody who ever made a difference in this world went through a struggle to find their real purpose. Don't dump all over yourself if you are feeling lost and worthless. It's a sign you're looking for your path.
Today, don't run to fix yourself when you feel broken. Stay with the discomfort. Walk through the fire and you'll find everything you need inside yourself. And yes, you will survive.
Sometimes we do things because we think it's what we're supposed to do. According to whose standards? Maybe the right thing for me is wrong for you - at this point in your journey.
Today, before you say yes, think about it. Are you doing it because you should, or because it's from your heart?
Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Anyone judging is only seeing you from their reality. Your job is to learn from YOURS. When you start realizing it's ok to screw up, you begin to loosen up and relax. And things flow from there.
Today, get in there. Get messy. Get out of this mindset that you have to perform for everyone.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book" (Psalm 56:8, NLT)
TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria Do you know how important you are to God? He cares so much about every detail of your life. He cares about your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In fact, what you are going through is so important to Him that He records every sorrow and collects every tear you've shed. Why would God record your sorrows and collect your tears? It's because He loves you so much. He is your Vindicator. He's keeping account of every wrong that's ever been done to you so that He can make up for every single one of them. He wants to restore everything that has ever been stolen. He wants to heal every single hurt and pain. He sees the longings and desires of your heart, and you can rest assured that behind the scenes He is working things out for your good!
I want to remind you today that God is with you. He is on your side. He has your best interest at heart, and He is working to bring restoration and peace to every area of your life. Keep standing, keep believing, and keep doing the right thing because the One who collects your tears will restore every broken place in your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY "Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me and setting me free. Thank You for being my Vindicator. I choose to release every hurt, pain and sorrow, knowing that You will make all things new. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Just because you are spiritual, praying, meditating and scanning, doesn't mean you are making this world a better place. Well, it's not enough. Action. Courage. Honesty with yourself and others. That's when you're doing the work of the Light.
Today, make your work tangible. Look for results. When you go to bed tonight, make sure you made someone else's load a little lighter.
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake…" (2 Peter 3:9, NLT)
TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria It doesn't take very long to discover that God's timing is not always our timing. It's easy to question and wonder why you've been waiting for your breakthrough for 15 years and your neighbor got their breakthrough in 15 minutes! In the Bible, Abraham waited 20 years for his promise, and in the upper room they waited about ten days. I don't know how long you'll have to wait, but you've got to understand that God has your best interest at heart. He is being patient for your sake. He's aligning things and waiting for the exact right moment! If you'll just continue waiting with the right attitude, then at the right time, God will bring it to pass.
Remember, God is always working behind the scenes for your good. Just because you don't see any changes taking place doesn't mean they aren't happening. Keep standing, keep believing, keep hoping because you're breakthrough is coming for your sake!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY "Father in heaven, today I choose to surrender all my questions, all my fears, and all my doubts. I know that You have only my best interest at heart. I trust You and believe that You are working behind the scenes for my sake. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
One way to deal with fear and anxiety is to look for someone to help. Sharing connects you to the spiritual realm, allowing the Light to flown down and displace your fear, just as a light bulb displaces darkness from a room.
Today, when the monster strikes, run to help someone!
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE "For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it" (Habakkuk 2:3 KJV)
TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria God has an appointed time to fulfill the visions, dreams, and desires in your heart. Just because it has taken a long time or because you've tried and failed, doesn't mean it's not going to happen. Don't give up on those dreams! Don't be complacent about pursuing what God has placed in your heart. Our God is a faithful God. No matter how long it's been, no matter how impossible things looks, if you'll stay in faith, your appointed time is coming.
Remember, every dream that's in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God put it in there. And not only that, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass. Hold on to that vision today by declaring, "My time is coming. God is working behind the scenes on my behalf. I will fulfill my destiny!" As you continue to hold on to that vision and speak life over your dreams, you'll see them begin to take shape. You'll see your faith grow, you'll see your hope strengthen, and you'll see yourself step into the destiny God has prepared for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY "Father in heaven, I receive Your truth today. I receive Your promises today. I ask that You ignite my heart with Your holy fire so that I can pursue Your perfect plan for my life. Make my thoughts and words agreeable to Your will. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
Last week we related our spiritual process to the growth process of an apple. Rav Ashlag reminded us that if something isn't right in our lives — he uses the word 'bitter' — it's like we are picking a fruit before it is ripe. It's not the fruit's fault — we're simply looking for results before they are complete.
I promised some more practical tools for helping your garden to grow.
The first thing we need to get beyond is feeling that we aren't capable, that we aren't in a place where the Light of the Creator can shine. How it shines is not always in our hands to know, but the main obstacle to tasting the fruits is the feeling that I don't deserve to see fruit.
There's enough limitation in our world without negative thinking: tikune (karma), the illusions provided by our five senses, to name a few. We literally stunt our own growth when we get to thinking that we are not deserving.
Secondly, there may be fruits already in our life that we don't see simply because we don't truly believe that we are capable of seeing our seeds become fruit. Even when our seeds become fruit, we think they didn't. We think they are invisible, or worthless. The seeds went into the ground and nothing came about. Maybe somebody else took the energy. But what we don't realize is, we put energy in and created something special in the universe.
The fruits might not always look or taste the way we expect them to. Sometimes they're hidden, unclear. But every seed/action we do, a fruit is eventually created. And the only people who see their fruits are those who believe they'll see them. They're the people who know their actions have power. As long as we, on any level, believe there will be fruits — there is no question there will be.
And yet, if we doubt the fruits themselves, we're no longer guaranteed we'll see them. We may miss the joy and fulfillment from them only because we don't believe we have that power to see fruits of our actions.
And finally, rest assured, if we plant ego trees, we transform into a carob farmer; the fruits will take a long time to yield and if you try to pick them sooner, they'll taste bad. Why? We didn't take the time to invest in the soil, fertilizing, nurturing. Then you'll get depressed and the fruits will reflect that.
To sum it all up:
1. When the fruit isn't ripe, remember it's about the process and the timing.
2. There is no such thing as bad people or bad situations, only impatient people.
3. Energy (seeds) is never lost.
4. Everyone, and I mean everyone, deserves to see the fruits of their labor.
5. Everyone, yes, including you, is capable of enjoying those fruits.
6. If you want to see your fruits sooner than later, don't plant seeds with ego.
Wishing you a bountiful harvest!
All the best,
Yehuda
72 Name of the Week With this Name as my compass, the path toward my spiritual home is illuminated. I regain my bearings. With every step I take and with each moment that passes, I feel comfort, confidence and a stronger sense of direction.
Did you know that God wants to take you beyond where you are right now? He loves and cares for you so much, and He wants you to experience life where anything is possible.
It's the life that Jesus lived, and it's the life He desires for you as you hear His voice and obey His Word. God didn't create you in the hope that you would just get by or settle for the ordinary.
God has a unique, just for you purpose!
So often we limit ourselves or allow others to put limits on us that keep us from fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. Many times, we don't even realize this is happening until we read God's Word and discover the real truth He has for us. If we, as believers, hold on to the things that limit us, they will keep us from the incredible life God has for us.
Doing it God's way isn't always easy. Trust doesn't come naturally to us; neither do forgiveness, patience or having a good attitude through difficult seasons in life.
If you want to go beyond where you are today, to get to the place God's calling you, you have to live God's way.
When you do things God's WAY, you get God's RESULTS.
Victoria and I believe God wants to take us beyond where our ministry is today. Our nation and our world desperately need to discover real hope … hope that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
We ask for your support as we reach out to share the message of God's unlimited love and HOPE around the world.
