Numbers 30-31. Luke 4:1-30, Psalms 63:1-11, Proverbs 11:20-21

What God said to me – Everyone dreams of a life of ease and comfort but that’s not the way it is for anyone, especially My children.  You will have challenges and stresses and trials in life that you encounter by design – My design – My plan for you.  I put those things in your life to teach you and to grow you and to strengthen you and to transform you so I can use you.  When you begin to lift weights in the gym, it’s difficult at first, but it gets easier the more you do it – not because the weights are getting lighter, but because you are getting stronger.  When I was preparing David to be king, he spent a lot of time in the wilderness and in caves running and hiding from those who were trying to destroy him.  I used that time to strengthen his relationship with Me – to teach him to trust Me and to depend on Me for everything.  He learned to worship Me and to seek Me and to cry out to Me and to trust Me in all things.  He learned that his relationship with Me was more important than anything else – even his very life.  Have you learned that lesson?

Numbers 28 :16-29 :40, Luke 3 :23-38, Psalms 62 :1-12, Proverbs 11:18-19

What God said to me – Waiting is hard – we get antsy so easily and we want some kind of action, so we feel like something is happening.  Waiting in silence is even harder.  In today’s world of instant gratification and microwaved meals, we feel like if we have to wait, something is wrong.  So, we complain and gripe to whoever is around.  In the Psalms, David said that his soul waited in silence for Me because he knew his salvation was from Me – I was his rock and his stronghold so he would not be shaken, and his refuge was in Me.  So, what about you?  David was waiting for physical deliverance from enemies who were trying to kill him, but you throw a fit and act like waiting in traffic or a delayed flight is a massive inconvenience and life or death.  David was able to wait in silence for Me because He trusted My sovereignty and My timing – so what does your impatience and complaining say about you?  When you are struggling with waiting, whether it’s delayed circumstances or unanswered prayers, don’t complain but pour out your heart to Me – “I AM” your refuge and your rock and “I AM” the one who can answer your prayers or fix your circumstances and give you peace in the waiting.

Numbers 26 :52-28 :15, Luke 3 :1-22, Psalms 61 :1-8, Proverbs 11:16-17

What God said to me – I called John the Baptist to be a voice crying in the wilderness telling people to get ready for Messiah.  He preached the gospel loud and clear that in order to be saved they had to repent and believe and if they were truly saved there would be fruit in their lives that demonstrated that salvation.  He made it clear that baptism didn’t save them and being a Jew didn’t save them.  He didn’t pull any punches or sugar coat it in order to draw bigger crowds or to pump up his numbers.  He didn’t have a comfortable auditorium or entertainment to draw them and yet they came because I drew them.  In these last days I have called the church to be a voice crying out for people to get ready for Messiah.  Don’t deceive them into thinking because they “prayed a prayer” that they are saved.  Don’t pull any punches or sugar coat it – tell them the truth – they must repent and believe and when they do that, their life will bear fruit showing it.  You walk in a manner worthy of your calling and share the true gospel so that they too will be able to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.