Judges 14-15, Psalms 85, 1 Timothy 1

What God said to me – You live in a time when the nations are roaring at each other and threatening war at every turn.  Society is in turmoil and filled with anger and hatred and threats.  It’s easy to get caught up in it all especially when your values and beliefs are belittled and threatened on a daily basis.  If you are not careful, you too can be filled with anger and hatred and respond in kind to those you disagree with.  While I want you to stand firm in your beliefs, it is not My way for you to respond the way the world does.  When you are in the midst of it you need to stop, take a deep breath, and hear what I have to say.  Remember those in the world do not know Me or have My Spirit within them so they respond according to their nature, not Mine.  You, however, are My child and have My Spirit within you so take a stand for righteousness but speak the truth in love and be kind.

Judges 12-13, Psalms 84, Galatians 5:22-26 – 6:1-18

What God said to me – Where do you invest your time?  Your money?  Your thoughts?  I have said that you reap what you sow.  As you periodically examine your life you need to consider this truth.  If you are constantly having dissensions and arguments with those you encounter think about what you have sowed to reap these results.  You can’t be argumentative and critical and expect to reap peace and joy in your relationships.  You can’t spend all of your money on frivolous things and then wonder how you could possibly be expected to tithe or invest in My kingdom.  You can’t fill your mind with all manner of evil and immorality from books and movies and television and expect to be able to not fall into sin.  If you want to be holy as “I AM” holy, then you must sow into your heart and mind My word.  Set your mind on things above and not on earthly things.  Your mind and heart are gardens that must be constantly tended to – weeded, fertilized, and sown with good things.

Judges 10-11, Psalms 83, Galatians 5

What God said to me – So how are you to walk in a world that is consumed by deeds of the flesh – immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions and on and on?  It is not easy when it is all around you in the media and in the people you meet and deal with every day.  The only way to do it is to walk by My Spirit and not give in to the flesh.  It is so much easier to respond with insult for insult and anger for anger and crassness for crassness.  It takes self-control and diligence and commitment to continuously seek Me and to walk in My Spirit – to bite your tongue and respond with love and kindness – to stop and pray and seek My direction in the midst of a heated encounter.  Remember they sin because they are sinners – it’s their nature and they don’t have My Spirit to control them – but you do.  Some may walk all over you when you respond this way, but a few will be drawn to Me as they see My Spirit living in you.