Yes! My Word, the scriptures. Read them, study them; store them in your hearts, use them as you use a lamp to guide your footsteps.

   But remember, My children, My Word is more even than that. It is the Voice that speaks to your hearts, that inner consciousness that tells of Me.

   It is the Voice that speaks to you intimately, personally, in this sacred evening time. It is even more than that. It is I your Lord and Friend.

   ”And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Truly a lamp to your feet, and a light to your path.


><//>--------------------Prayer for the Day

Father, we pray that we may follow the leading of the inner voice. We pray that we may not turn a deaf ear to the urging of our conscience. Amen. 


A Disciple’s Reflections: Let's Dig Deeper

Beloved, let us make simple some of the deeper truths of God.  This is some of the higher manna that can really enrich and empower us in the spiritual realm for victory here and now.

Since my “new-birth,” fellow believers have asked me to explain deeper spiritual truths of the Faith in terms they can understand. Speaking before a group, as I’m oft asked to do, one dear friend once said, “Brother Barry, give us a solid portion of meat to chew on, but would you just tenderize it a bit for us?” These good believers knew that without the benefit of protein in our diets there would be little growth. Yet, without proper preparation, protein can be difficult to swallow. Don’t you agree?

It was back then that I decided to do what the Lord has done so aptly. He drew word pictures that help us to understand deeper truths that are not of this world. I really enjoy doing that too, so it must be right in the Lord.

I use myself and the many experiences that the Lord has given me to open the eyes of my own heart and to help others to see His deeper Truth, and guess what? His deeper truths usually end up being – easy to understand simple truths, especially when we give them a chance by trying to understand with open, willing hearts. That’s all it really takes to understand the deeper things of God's Kingdom – an open, ready, willing, and submissive heart of a child. 

Here’s an example:

Did you know that it is not as important what we pray or how we pray as it is where a prayer is sourced, or from where it originates? All right, I can see your head shaking over this one. It’s a beautiful statement, I know, but to anyone who is trying to understand the ways of God, it’s worth at least a (number 3) headache.

So then, let me try that one again, only with pictures. 

Did you know that all genuine prayer does not originate with us, but with God, Himself? That’s right! 

Allow me to explain. In any given situation we rightly pray for the knowledge of His Will, then when we understand His will and commit to agree with it.  We then pray it back to God that it be done and we can know with absolute certainty that what we have prayed will be done.  Isn't this exciting?

This is where I often run into a wall of uninformed unbelief. "Yes, brother, but we are so flawed", and blah this and blah that is what I so often hear regarding prayer. We put all deceptions of the devil away with one word, which we can so adore. Grace.

Yes, it is with God’s Grace, and more Grace still that covers all our flaws, as long as we don’t conceal them.  Then our hearts and consciences are white as the driven snow and we are able to receive His will for us – by His Grace.

In my own case, I am often like the demanding run amok child with his Mom at Wal-Mart that I witnessed not too long ago. We’ve all seen him, and felt pity for Mom, haven’t we?

I get to this place where I feel I have a need or needs that must be met, when actually they are wants and not needs. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. One I need to survive or need in order to perform in His service and will not be denied by God.  The other is a luxury that I could probably live without, and maybe even grow spiritually should I not receive. THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE – A VERY GREAT DIFFERENCE!

Let us look for a moment at the little boy and his mom in the Wal-Mart.  There he was, this little boy. He started out asking, “I want this, “ and “I want that.” At first, Mom just ignored these pleas, since they had already discussed prior coming to the store about this very scenario. Within minutes his asking became whining, and then whining became crying. We’ve all seen this behavior. Unfortunately, it took the Spirit of God to show me that this is often our own behavior towards our Father in Heaven in regard to our prayers.

At one time in my life I was praying for a believing, spiritual wife. I thought for sure that any day I would get a knock on my door and there she would be. Well, I waited and waited upon the Lord, but nothing happened. I was committed at this point not to act on the desire myself. I knew my mate MUST come from the Lord or I would be in nothing but trouble. I eventually became impatient, and my prayers escalated to whining. Then, I soon found myself weeping, and falling into a disgruntled, ungrateful depression.

There is a lot at stake here. More than just acquiring a mate from our God. For me, what was at stake was the very nature of ANSWERED PRAYER itself. Was God saying NO to me? Perhaps, He was trying to drive me crazy and leave me to lust and loneliness?

The answer to both those inquiries was an immediate NO! God is just too good for that pettiness. It must be something with me, or my prayer that needed correction. This became my immediate prayer – to be corrected. Oh, beloved, how God blesses a correctable heart. There is probably no greater sign that a person is seeking humility, the trait God loves most in us all than to possess a correctable heart – a teachable heart – a humble heart.

It was then that the Lord spoke to my heart. He asked me a question. Were I to give you one of my daughters, He asked of me, are you prepared to LOVE her? Are you truly prepared to LOVE her?

It was then that I could see the selfishness of my prayer. I was praying for what I wanted – but I never prayed instead for lust to be removed, and my addictive need for companionship or dependency that could crush any spouse. Is it love to place such burden on another human being who is probably in need of just as much healing as I? Also in my case, there was divorce. When am I going to face my responsibilities for that failure, or would it be more convenient to just blame the other for everything.

It’s right there in His Word, isn’t it? He says, we don’t receive, because we ask selfishly for ourselves.

We are often irresponsible like little children where our feelings or finances are oft concerned. I repented my prayer with thanksgiving, and began praying in the Will of God. I prayed for my defects of character to be removed and my shortcomings that grieved God and others to be torn from me root and branch as if they were weeds suffocating a garden. Should God bring a precious loved one into my life, let me be found worthy and a blessing unto her.

I’ve yet to be paired with another. But that’s quite all right. The desire for that type of fellowship is no longer a craving within me. Yes, I can say with all assurance, that the desire for the Righteousness of God and His Kingdom is truly first in my life. I was saying that before too, but I was lying. There were a lot of desires I wanted fulfilled, and in all truth Righteousness wasn’t the first one on my list.

Does this little picture story help to make a spiritual principle easier to understand? With all my heart, I pray so. For you see, I love you, and would rejoice to have you live a life where every prayer is answered, “Yea, and Amen.”  Nothing would please me more than to know that your Joy were complete.


Money, Money Changes Everything

[Jesus said,] "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. – Luke 16:10 (NKJV)

Jesus had a lot to say about money. 

Throughout all time, every socio-economic system has revolved around money and money has always been one of the world's greatest means of corruption. It is fair to say that many people actually idolize money and material possessions these days, and probably more today than in any other time in history. 

Nonetheless, Jesus speaks the truth concerning one's attitude towards money, regardless of the amount a person has. And what He said is true for all of us today; if we are faithful and just with the least amount of money, we will be faithful and just with much money. And, of course, the same is true if we are unjust. God has richly blessed many Christians financially; but not just because they give to their church, to the poor, or to the TV evangelist, but rather because they have demonstrated the proper attitude towards money (as good stewards over that which God has given them).

So what's our attitude about money? Are we generous without compulsion? Does money help us to serve God better or do we serve money? Are we wise (good stewards) with money, or foolish? If we could look at everything we have as that which really belongs to God, would we change the way we do some things? 

Money is the cause of more anxiety, worry, strife, dissention, grief, murder, hatred, covetousness, lust, deceit, depression, and theft than any other thing on the face of the earth. Money is the most powerful inanimate object we will ever know. But money, in and of itself is not bad; in fact, the generosity of thousands has seen money work for great good. It is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil. Today, my hope is that we may have the right attitude about money and that we will seek to serve God always! 

[Jesus said,] "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (money)."
– Luke 16:13 (NKJV)


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Please have a blessed day, be hopeful, be encouraged, and know that you are not alone.

”God’s Calling” compiled by A. J. Russell.
”Twenty Four Hours A Day” Hazelton (adapted).
Greg Candelaria writes Money, Money Changes Everything.
Barry Gray writes A Disciple’s Reflections.