Keys to Victory series

Counsel on stress‚ pressure, priorities, battles and overcoming!

By MariaMaria #670 CM/FM 3481 10/03

My dear loves and faithful co-workers,

1. In this GN I want to share with you some jewels from our Husband that I think will  be a great encouragement to you and help to make your loads lighter as you see things more from His perspective. It's so wonderful that we can be continually growing and maturing and seeing things more from Heaven's perspective through all the fresh‚ living counsel He gives via prophecy. I pray these excerpts of messages received for others and by others are a blessing to you. I love you!

Love in our faithful Giver and constant Companion,

Mama

Pressure Versus Stress

—What's the Difference?

(Prayer of one of our WS workers, and the Lord's answer to him—and you!)

2. (Question: ) Jesus, it seems the pressures of the work aren't getting any less. There's always so much happening and so much to do—not just on the work front, with deadlines, pushes, and projects, but especially now with so much happening in the spirit, too. All of this on top of all the normal pressures of my ministry and deadlines, and my responsibilities in the Home‚ is sometimes a little overwhelming.

3. I just feel that no matter what I do, it's never going to be enough. I'm never going to be good enough, and I'm never going to get enough done. I'm never going to be close enough to You. I should always be doing more and accomplishing more and growing more.

4. We're supposed to be striving to be better disciples, live more in the Word and take more time with You, have intercessory prayer for others, reach out to others more, and help our Home to be all it's supposed to be. We're supposed to be working on fulfilling our commitment to the Word Revolution and letting the Word come through in all we do. We're supposed to be learning to work more in teamwork with our spirit helpers, grow in our use of prophecy‚ learning to use the keys and the other new weapons.

5. But I'm just flesh and blood‚ and sometimes I think it's not humanly possible to keep up or do everything that I feel I have to do to fulfill all of my responsibilities in my ministry and in the Home, as well as everything else I have to do‚ and still have time for all of the important spiritual matters.

6. I want to do all these things. I really do, Lord. But it's just so much, it makes me feel like not even trying, like it's not worth it, because I'll never be able to anyway. I feel so stressed sometimes, I feel like I'm just going to end up getting burnt out or quitting at some point, and I know that's not Your will. So please speak to me and show me how to go about all this‚ or anything else that You have to say to me about the different sources of stress and pressure in my life.

7. (Jesus:) Dear one, it's not really the challenges of your work or your life for Me that are making you feel the way you sometimes do. It's not your workload and responsibilities. It's not the WS work ethic, commitment to excellence‚ and daily work reports. And it's definitely not the Word Revolution and the renewed emphasis on the things of the spirit that are wearing you down. These things were all established through much prayer and counsel for your own good—to help you. They're My guidelines or standards to help you maintain the right balance in your life, the right priorities and perspectives, so that you won't eventually wear out and feel like quitting.

8. It's not Me or the things I ask of you that make you feel this way. I'm not the one pushing you so hard that you feel like your every second is being judged and monitored. I'm not the one telling you that you'll never be good enough or accomplish enough. It's certainly not My goal and plan to burden you in this way. It's the way you're living—the way you're tempted to look at things and the wrong attitudes and mindset you so easily fall into. You have a habit of going about things the wrong way—a fleshly way‚ in your own strength. And you'd better stop soon and take a good look at yourself and your work habits, and learn to go about things differently, before it's too late. Because there's no way that you can go on like this indefinitely.

9. I'm not saying that all of these things are only in your mind, that there isn't a lot to do and keep up with or that there really aren't any pressures in your life. Of course there are pressures. Life is full of challenges and pressures. But a certain amount of pressure isn't bad for you if you handle it properly. It's good for you. And sometimes—when I know it's needed and that you're able to take it—I even allow you to have to face more than just a little pressure—even various types of pressures all at the same time.

10. Pressure doesn't just come in the form of work and responsibilities, because there is so much more to life than that. So, as you've experienced, some of the heaviest pressures can come in the way of spiritual battles and struggles, afflictions, or personal tests, breakings and lessons. These things might be tough for you to have to deal with, but they're all good for you—or at least they can be. The different pressures I allow in your life and ministry are all for a purpose and for your own good. They're meant to help you stretch and grow. They're meant to teach you many invaluable lessons. And they can help you to accomplish more and be more fruitful than you ordinarily would be if you were left to your own devices‚ without the extra incentive of a little kick in the pants from the things I allow to come your way.

11. On the other hand, as you've already learned, some kinds of pressure aren't good for you; they're bad for you. They can even kill you if you let them. My yoke is easy, and the burdens I ask you to carry are light. But if they're not; if you're feeling overburdened, stressed, and heavy laden, then something isn't right, and you're either going about things the wrong way or you're looking at things the wrong way.

12. Pressure can either be good or bad for you, depending on where it's coming from, who's applying it, and how you deal with it. But while a little godly pressure can be good for you, what you're so often experiencing is much more than a little pressure; it's actual strain and stress. And stress is never good for you—not even a little a bit! It's always bad, and always bears bad fruit. It weakens and hinders, and it will ultimately keep you from accomplishing My purpose in your life. It will make you miserable‚ and then you'll turn around and make others miserable as well. Stress is never beneficial. It never glorifies Me in any way. It's of the Devil. It's the direct result of the wrong kind of pressure, or the wrong motives, or of going about things the wrong way, or at least not going about things the right way.

13. Whenever you're faced with a challenge or a test, or a difficulty, or some other form of outside pressure—more than what you're used to or what feels comfortable—My plan is for these things to help you, not hurt you. And they will help you, if you handle them the right way. If the result of these added pressures and tests is that you recognize more clearly your own limitations and weaknesses‚ and you become more desperate with Me and more dependent on Me, and you strive to work more in teamwork with the spiritual weapons and the keys and the helpers I've provided you with, you'll soon see the Romans 8:28 in each situation you're faced with.

14. That's why I've been speaking to you so much about the Word Revolution and giving you more insight into the spirit world and the warfare that's going on all around you. These things aren't meant to overwhelm you and get you stressed out‚ much less to make you feel like quitting and not even trying. They're meant to help you grow and become stronger in Me.

15. In order to make you a more capable worker and a more effective disciple and missionary, I've had to up the pressure, to shake you out of your spiritual lethargy and jolt you out of your ruts. I know things can get a little uncomfortable in some ways—maybe even downright difficult at times. But it's meant to be good for you.

16. Whenever you allow Me, through the demands of your life and work (both the normal, as well as the unexpected tests and trials that come your way) to put you under a little godly pressure; and you quickly turn right around and put that pressure back on Me, by casting your cares upon Me and asking for My anointing and My spirit help through the power of the keys of Heaven, then I'm able to give you whatever you need to see you through and help you to get the job done—without you having to overextend yourself or become overburdened and stressed. I know that's easier said than done; it takes discipline. But that's something that you, as My disciple, are supposed to be learning—the discipline of letting Me possess you more fully rather than operating in your own strength, which is your natural tendency and which is the downfall of man.

17. Some pressures are of Me and some aren't. The ones that aren't are merely unreasonable expectations that you've allowed yourself to take on. And sometimes, even if the pressures are something I've allowed in your life for a reason, you don't handle them the right way. You don't rest in Me enough; you don't spend enough time with Me or let Me help you carry the burdens that I know you can carry—but only with My help. Something unexpected comes your way, or you get hit with a trial of some kind, and instead of going about things the way I've asked you to, you automatically slip into "self-works" mode—really, "self-destruction" mode. You roll up your sleeves and start pushing and pulling and struggling to pick up that burden and put it on your own shoulders and try to trudge your way through‚ all on your own.

18. Your motives are good, but your mode of operating is amiss. You're trying as hard as you can to get things done‚ and you want to do a good job. You want to be a blessing and to feel that you're accomplishing something, no matter how difficult it may seem. And you sincerely tell yourself that once you're finished, once you've gotten all the major obstructions and deadlines and complications out of the way, once you've handled all the important, tough stuff, then you'll be able to stop and take a little time with Me and go back to doing things "the right way" once again.

19. Instead of immediately coming to Me from the start to get My perspective on things, you let the Enemy fool you into feeling so pressured, so "personally" responsible, that you feel you don't have the time to go about things as prayerfully as you know you should. And because you're not taking the time to cast your cares upon Me and get sufficiently filled up with My faith-building Word and promises, those little pressures gradually begin to grow and become magnified and exaggerated in your mind, until they become a source of frustration and trial, and you begin to feel drained and discouraged‚ and ultimately overwhelmed. That's not very good strategy. That's not My idea of how to win the battle. That's more like a suicide mission.

20. When you operate like that—when you don't come to Me and hear from Me and you don't take the time to turn your burdens and cares over to Me—the Enemy takes advantage of the situation and quickly begins mucking things up. He starts blowing things out of proportion and exaggerating them in your mind‚ until before you know it, the work and problems seem almost unbearable. Everything, even the tiniest molehill, starts looking like a huge mountain—so much bigger and more difficult to climb than it really is. You soon start feeling like you're struggling through quicksand and not getting anywhere, just sinking deeper and deeper in the mire. It's the Devil's trap‚ the Green Door! And if you keep going that way, you'll find that you've dug yourself right into the pit—like that old song about coal mining, "Sixteen Tons":

 You load sixteen tons, and what do you get?

 Another day older and deeper in debt.

 St. Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go.

 I owe my soul to the company store.

21. And by the way, the "company store" isn't WS or the Family. It's the Enemy. The Devil is the one who wants to burden you and weigh you down. He wants to turn you into a miserable zombie—totally drained and zapped of all your energy and inspiration and strength, too tired and stressed and busy to even spend time with Me. That's not what living for Me is all about. That's My idea of hell! It's of the Devil. But it's your own fault for listening to him and doing things his way, the carnal, fleshly way, instead of My way.

22. Whenever you begin feeling overburdened and stressed, in one way or another it's always because you haven't been obeying Me as you should; either you're not looking at the challenges and tests of life in the right way, or you're not handling them the right way. You're gradually becoming your own worst enemy, and believe it or not, unless you learn to operate differently and do things My way, you'll eventually get to the point that you feel so negative about things, you'll find yourself resenting your job and your calling in life, your circumstances, and even your very life for Me. You'll end up blaming Me or your shepherds and overseers for something that wasn't our fault in the first place.

23. There has to be some pressure or else nothing much would ever get done. But it's not My will or desire for you to let yourself become totally miserable and unable to keep going because you're overburdened and stressed. I love you and I need you! You've got to learn to handle pressure the right way, otherwise each new project or challenge, each new test or affliction that I allow to come your way will just become another potential "cause of death," another suicide mission—another sixteen tons.

24. My Word teaches you to "be not weary in well-doing." But if you're going to be able to endure to the end, you must learn to run with patience the race that is set before you. If you'll bring each situation to Me, each source of pressure, and let Me give you My perspective on the challenges that come your way, you'll learn to have more control over your life—My control on how you feel and how things affect you. As you allow Me to speak to you and teach you‚ you'll learn how to gauge yourself and the different pressures, and be able to use those pressures in positive, constructive ways to help you accomplish what you need to accomplish.

25. But if you don't, if you try to take things all on yourself, you'll eventually just fold, or you'll explode or implode. Whatever happens, it won't be good. You'll be completely overwhelmed by it all‚ and your life and usefulness—and worst of all, your joy and love for Me—will be lost.

26. (Channel:) I saw a picture of a huge engine room or a generator room of some kind. There were lots of big pipes and tubes and generators all around. I had the feeling that there was a tremendous amount of energy being generated and channeled in that one place, running out through all the pipes and tubing to the rest of the factory or the surrounding community, or whatever it was for. There were gauges and valves on all the connections, to adjust and monitor the amount of pressure.

27. There was a man in a white jacket walking around with a clipboard. He was checking all the gauges, making sure that the valves were all opened just the right amount. Whenever steam or whatever it was started coming out at any of the valves or joints, he would make some adjustments to compensate.

28. I could sense that tons of pressure of some kind was moving through the pipes, and the pressure was the energy that kept things going. Everything was fine as long as the pressure was just right and the valves were all set at the right level.

29. Sometimes‚ depending on the need, he would open the valves a little more and let more pressure through. But I had the feeling that it all had to be done very methodically, with care and the proper timing, otherwise it could become very dangerous, and the whole works could explode.

30. (Jesus continues: ) Whenever you're faced with a challenge or a trial or a pressure that I've allowed in your life for a reason‚ it's because I know you can handle it and it will be good for you in some way. It can help you. You don't have to feel trapped or burdened by it. But neither do I want you to let yourself become totally miserable and unable to keep going because you're so burdened and stressed out. I love you, and I need you!

31. You can't afford to allow stress in your life or ministry—not for a minute. You're much too valuable for that. You're important to Me, and I need you to take care of yourself. You've got to learn to commit the pressures and the challenges to Me, and let Me show you how to deal with them, how to use them for your benefit‚ without letting them use and abuse you.

32. Whatever pressures you have in your life can be managed‚ and managed well—if they're of Me and if you bring them to Me. Cast your cares upon Me, because I care for you. And I also care about what you're doing. It's My business, after all. So bring it all to Me—each source of pressure or frustration. Cast on Me all the pressures of your ministry, your work and your life and service, as well as the extra stress that sometimes comes with interacting with those you live and work with. Lay it all at My feet; take My yoke upon you, and I'll help you to enjoy life and your work once again, to grow and learn whatever you need to learn, and to accomplish whatever needs to be accomplished—without you getting freaked out, stressed out and overextended. (End of message from Jesus)

From Lump of Coal to Diamond

33. (Jesus:) Do you remember the anecdote about how an ugly, black mass of dirty coal can be transformed and become a beautiful crystalline diamond if enough pressure is applied? It might help you at times, when you're feeling a little pressured about things, to stop and think of yourself as being that piece of coal‚ in the process of being transformed. The press of your responsibilities, and the squeezing that comes from all that I'm doing in your life, isn't meant to crush you; it's meant to transform you into something very beautiful and special.

34. Consider Pandita Ramabai, for example. When she felt the call to do whatever she could to reach her people with My love‚ even to the point of being willing to live twice her life in half the time, that was quite a lot of pressure. But that burden and yoke was of Me. I put it on her heart, and she yielded to what I was asking of her. She took up her cross and carried it with gladness. But because she had the right motives, the right desires, and she went about it in the right way, I was able to do it through her‚ without her feeling overly stressed or unhappy about it. It burdened her, yes. But it was My burden, and I helped her to carry it. Because it was My will and My doing, she was able to burn the candle at both ends, without having to overextend herself and burn out too soon. That's an example of good pressure as compared to stress and self-works. A lot depends on your motives and the spirit behind your work, and also on how you go about things.

35. The apostle Paul was another example of living with the right kind of pressure. He lived a long and fruitful life—under almost continual pressure. When he said, "Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel‚" it's obvious he felt very pressed in spirit. The burden I placed on his heart to evangelize the world sometimes weighed extremely heavily upon him. Many times he suffered a great deal of discomfort and sacrifice, and even hurt and pain because of his high calling. But it was good pressure, good pain‚ because it was godly pain, not bad pain or stress. Paul was willing to endure hardness as a soldier of the cross, and because he had learned to cast his cares upon Me, I was able to give him all the grace and strength he needed to continue on and on, until he had finally finished his course and won the prize. He didn't burn out or allow himself to become stressed out. However, he could have never endured what he did in his own strength. He had to rely totally upon Me and let Me possess him completely.

36. There are countless examples in the annals of history of those who allowed Me to apply all kinds of pressure in their lives, until the day they died—enough to keep them moving, growing and changing, and not settling down; just enough pressure, in just the right measure, to cause them to be transformed from lumps of useless clay into beautiful diamonds of dust shining brightly for Me.

37. When it comes to your important calling and mission in life, I want you to feel a certain amount of pressure. I need you to be willing to give your life for Me, just as Pandita Ramabai gave hers, and as the apostle Paul gave his, and as Joan of Arc, C.T. Studd,* David Livingstone‚ and so many others gave theirs. That's quite a bit of pressure, I know. But it's good pressure, godly pressure‚ and you need it. *(Note: See the book summary C.T. Studd: Cricketer and Pioneer, in the "Overflow" section of the MO site.)

38. I pray that you'll always have a burning desire in your heart to do whatever you can to reach the world with My love. It's a big job. There's a big harvest to reap, and the laborers are few, and you can't afford to ever feel that you can settle down and get comfortable and forget who you are and what I've called you to do.

39. Always remember what you're there for and how important your calling and life for Me are. Don't ever feel satisfied doing as little as you can do. Expand your horizons and constantly look to the stars. The sky's the limit‚ dear one! That saying can be true for you, too—whether you feel capable of it or not. But in order to see the stars, you must keep looking up, to Me, not get stuck looking down at the grindstone‚ the millstone of all you have to do and feeling sorry for yourself for how hard things are, or how difficult your life is. Your life isn't that difficult—not when you consider what it would be like if you didn't have Me. You have a wonderful life, a life worth dying for!

40. So remember, pressure can be a good thing. It doesn't have to hurt you; it can help you. You're capable of much more than you think you are—not in the way you've sometimes lived and worked in the past, doing so much in your own strength, but when you learn to let Me live and work through you more fully. You've got to learn this lesson or you won't last, and you'll never become the miracle worker in this era of greater works that I'm calling you to be.

41. I know it's difficult for you to grasp this spiritual principle. You want to, but you simply can't seem to get it down or understand how to go about it. But if you truly want to give your all to Me, and you continue to come to Me about this in humility and desperation, claiming the power of the keys and the help that I've promised you, I'll continue to transform your life and change you from a lump of weary flesh and clay into the beautiful diamond you were destined to be. (End of message from Jesus.)

Do What You Can,

And Trust Me for the Rest

42. (Jesus:) When there's so much to do and so few to do it, you've got to trust that I'm getting done through you what is most important. Yes, you have a long to-do list‚ but you shouldn't feel pressured by it. Just plug along hour by hour and do what you can, and then trust Me for the rest. You can feel motivated by all of the work there is to do, but should never feel weighed down by it. When there's a lot to do‚ you can be challenged by it, but not overwhelmed.

43. Cast every burden on Me. Give everything to Me right now—all of your work, all of your thoughts—and ask Me to help you make it through the day. I can and will, and it won't be you just making it through by the skin of your teeth‚ it will be you making it through feeling rewarded at the end of the day, knowing you have done your best, that you've accomplished the most important things. (End of message from Jesus.)

Lean Harder on Me

(Received by a teamwork member of one of our WS Homes who was having to fill in for the rest of his teamwork who were away on trips: )

44. (Jesus:) During the time that [your teamworkers] are away, there will be a lot happening‚ a lot of things going on that you'll have to be responsible for in one way or another. It's not like you can or should ignore things and pretend that they don't concern you. They will concern you; it's your job. However, during this time when there will be even more on your plate than normal, you'd do well to follow the advice of many great men of God who have gone before you‚ who, throughout their lives of service for Me, learned the secret of effective leadership.

45. Your main priority during the weeks ahead should be to draw closer to Me and spend even more time with Me than you would under normal circumstances. With so much to do and so much going on in the spirit, I will be expecting you to be a sample of relying more on Me, trusting in Me, spending time with Me‚ praising Me, loving Me, enjoying Me, and giving yourself to Me more completely—not trying to handle more in your own strength, or pushing yourself to do more and take care of more things.

46. When circumstances require you to take on more responsibility or a bigger workload, your first and foremost responsibility is still your relationship with Me. That still comes first, and nothing should ever change in that regard. As it is, you already work pretty much day and night with the responsibilities you normally handle‚ and you can't or shouldn't try to work any longer or harder. You shouldn't try to do more or take on more than you normally would do.

47. So, in the weeks to come, nothing much should really change in that regard—even though there might be more on your plate that you're ultimately responsible for. In fact, if anything changes in that regard, it should be that you strive to give Me more of yourself and your thoughts, not less. Your main responsibility is still to Me, and your priorities in life should remain the same as always.

48. Rather than pushing yourself harder in the flesh, if you will lean harder on Me, and if you push for anything, push to make your times with Me more special than normal, then you will see and feel the preparation in spirit that is most needed for what is to come.

49. Make sure you don't miss a single appointment with Me. Keep your Word times, your vigil times, and your conference times with Me. Don't try to squeeze more into your days than you already do. Go slow, even slower than you normally would—not necessarily slower in the physical, but slower and more determined and connected in the spirit. Don't let yourself become rushed or pressured or pushed by circumstances, or by people and their needs or the needs of the Home.

50. Make sure you hear from Me about your priorities. If you concentrate on the majors and trust Me to take care of the rest, then everything will be taken care of without you feeling any more burdened or pressured than normal.

51. Having added responsibilities can work two ways, depending on how you go about it. If you go about it the right way‚ taking on more responsibility in the spirit rather than in the flesh, it can help to stretch you and grow you up. The added responsibilities can help to make you more effective and more efficient, by causing you to draw closer to Me and making you more dependent on Me. However‚ if you don't go about it the right way, if you try to work harder in the flesh and handle things in your own strength, you'll not grow in spirit; you'll actually wither spiritually. Your faith will shrink and you'll wear yourself out and hinder your usefulness to Me.

52. Just because you're going to have more on your plate‚ that doesn't mean that your spiritual growth and training and preparation has to be put on the back burner during this time. No way. This is all part of the preparation. I'm going to use the weeks ahead to grow you up in spirit and raise you to a higher level of spiritual maturity. At least‚ that's what I plan to do, and what I will be able to do—if you cooperate and do your part by striving to make your connection with Me stronger. (End of message from Jesus.)

Go at God's Pace

53. (Mama:) Following is a little note and message from the Lord that I recently sent to all our WS units, since it was an especially busy time with tight deadlines in many departments and many people were feeling under pressure or a little stressed. I thought you would appreciate being able to benefit from it too, no matter what your ministry or workload.

Dear each one of you,

54. I love each of you, and I'm praying for you during this busy time. I'm claiming the keys of efficiency and focus and heavenly thought power for each of you!

55. I know that when things get busy—as they are now—we're often tempted to feel pressured or stressed‚ and it can be a real fight to cast our cares on the Lord. So I asked our dear Husband if He could give encouragement and counsel for all of us during this time. He did! Here is the helpful‚ faith-building message He gave.

Love, Mama

56. P.S. I'm sending this message to all, as I felt it was good counsel for anyone who is feeling pressured at any time and for any reason. So even if you're not feeling pressured right now, you can thank the Lord for that, and tuck these lessons away for another day in the future when you may need this counsel more. I love you.

57. (Jesus:) My darling brides, there is so much to do and so little time to do it in if you are to meet this imminent and unchangeable deadline, but do not take the burdens on your own shoulders. There is no need, because I am right beside you to help you, lift the load, anoint you, and give you My wisdom and supernatural empowerment.

58. The problem with taking the work on your own shoulders—aside from you feeling unnecessarily stressed and pressured—is that you may end up doing things that you think are most important and neglecting things that I know are most important. You see‚ at a time like this, there is only so much you are physically capable of doing. The load is bigger than your shoulders. So in order to know your priorities and do first things first, to get the most essential things taken care of in the time you have, you must lean on Me and ask Me everything as you go. Otherwise you risk not only burnout and undue stress and pressure, but also forgetting or not being able to fit in things that I know are most important, while you work wearily away in the flesh to fit in what you think is most important.

59. At a time like this, the temptation is to just go go go! After all, there's so little time and so much to do. But remember that the busier things get, the more important it is to spend time with Me. In your situation, that doesn't always mean that you need to take more hours of Word time or more P&P time than normal—although I might occasionally ask that of you. It means that your focus should be more on Me as you go about your work, making sure that your priorities are right, your goals are defined as I want them defined, and your schedule is in sync with Mine. It doesn't take more time to do this; it just takes more heavenly thought power, more full possession, more calling on the keys, more focusing on the power of My Spirit rather than your own strength and power.

60. As you each depend on Me and look to Me and listen to Me as you work and set things in order, and as you prepare for the fast-approaching D-day, "deadline day," I promise that I will help you and anoint you. If you're depending on Me and doing the work as I want it done‚ with first things first according to My plan, then you won't reach your deadline feeling completely frazzled. You'll have a perfect peace in your heart, knowing that you did what you could, and you'll have the trust in Me to know that I'm going to take care of what you couldn't do.

61. My dear brides, when there's so much to do, your link with Me, your dependence on Me, and your faith is tried to its limits. It's the nature of man to lean on the arm of the flesh‚ to try to do it all yourself and not cast it on Me. But remember that the nature of the spirit is that when you cast your burdens on Me, your load will grow lighter, and when you take on My yoke, it will make things easier for you to bear. Your load is not going to disappear and the yoke isn't going to be effortless—but the load will be lighter and the yoke will be easier to bear if you are casting your cares‚ burdens, and to-dos on My shoulders and doing things My way.

62. My shoulders are broad enough to carry any load—and the heavier the load, the stronger I am to bear it. My hands are skillful enough to take care of any task—and the more complex and difficult it is, the more My power is seen. My timetable is perfect, and as you do things My way and tackle jobs according to My priorities, then you'll have great success and know you've done the best you could, accomplished all that was physically possible with My anointing, and then you'll be able to trust Me for the rest.

63. I give you a lot to do, not because I expect you to do it all right now, but so that you can learn to depend on Me and go by My plan amidst all there is to do. That's the secret to not feeling under stress or pressure: knowing from the onset that you won't get everything done, but if you can get done what I want you to get done, and do it with My strength and power and not your own, that's all that I expect of you, and that's a wonderful victory.

64. So go at My pace‚ My loves, and I will give you the grace and the time to do everything that needs to be done—and remember, that's not every single thing there is to do, but only the things that I know need to be done now. Call on the keys to have My mind and thoughts, My heavenly thought power‚ My sense of priorities, and My peace which will lift you above all of the stress and pressure and bring you to the place where My will is known, My plan is clear, My priorities are your guidelines, and My strength and power are yours. (End of message from Jesus.)

Use Your Battles

To Propel You Forward!

65. (Jesus:) There will continue to be battles, but if you fight through each one, you will grow stronger through them—stronger in the spirit, stronger with the power of the new weapons.

66. If you're ever discouraged about yourself or think you're not making progress, look at how far you've come. Think about yourself a few years ago, and then compare positively with yourself today. I have brought so many challenges into your life in recent years that have strengthened you, matured you, and brought you great joys. And though today you still feel like you have a long way to go, look at how far I have brought you already, and that will give you faith for the future.

67. Of course you haven't "arrived," but you never will "arrive," My love. There is no end of learning‚ growing, and progressing. This is how your life will continue to be on Earth—filled with challenges, opportunities to stretch and gain greater spiritual strength. So in some ways to feel you have a long way to go is a good thing‚ as it's a challenge to keep moving forward. It should not discourage you, because discouragement only glues your feet to the ground and stops you from moving forward.

68. Discouragement is like a big wall that makes you stop and feel as if you can't go any further. It's like sinking sand that keeps you in the present, sinking in the lies of the Enemy. That's why you've got to fight it with the keys of faith—faith in Me, faith to do My will, and even faith in yourself, faith that I can and will use you despite your weakness and inabilities. This is what I want you to learn more this year, My love, that My abilities will always override your inabilities, that My strength will always supersede yours, that My power is always available—even when you feel like a dead battery or a car running on an empty fuel tank.

69. You are never beyond the point of being helped by My power and My keys, no matter how you feel, no matter how weak you are, no matter how many blunders and mistakes you make on a regular basis. Don't ever let discouragement push you down and back to a place where I can't use you as much as I would like. Always fight it, My love! Jump into the hot air balloon of rise-above power and overcome‚ or put on the wings of My Spirit and let Me lift you over every obstacle! You are only as defeated, useless, or inadequate as you think you are. But if you refuse to think that way, but instead think in terms of My power, there is no limit to what I will be able to do through you.

70. Yes, My love‚ there is more I wish to do through you, great ways I wish to use you, but it takes battles to bring you to the place I want you to be. So joy in them, knowing they are methods and means of transportation to get you where I want you to be—not to a final destination of "arrival," but a place of being where you are continually moving forward.

71. Think of yourself as walking a pathway for Me. When you're plodding along and making progress without many battles, you will move forward and it's not as much of a fight. But then when battles come your way, they're like vehicles to propel you forward at a faster rate—so jump on them and get the most out of the journey! Milk every battle and test for every last drop of experience and spiritual growth, and you'll go far. Then when the battle is over, keep walking forward, taking steps for Me, until I send around the next battle vehicle to propel you forward yet again. See‚ My love, if you look at battles in a positive light‚ you can praise and thank Me for them, and really look forward to where they'll take you on the spiritual pathway of your life. (End of message from Jesus.)

Balancing Work

And Family Priorities

72. (Mama: ) This next message was received in answer to a question from one of our dear COs‚ who was facing something that many in leadership or positions of responsibility have to deal with constantly. This person was torn between two very important needs—one involving Family business and the other involving their personal family. The question was which was most important at the time, which should they tend to. Obviously they couldn't be in two places at once, and both needs seemed pretty important.

73. You don't have to be a CO to be faced with those kinds of decisions, as we all face them regularly. And often the proper choice isn't very obvious. It's usually a matter of personal faith, timing, conviction‚ wisdom to know which is more important at the time, etc. It's wonderful to know that we can always go to our loving Husband and ask His wise counsel at times like that.

74. Here's some general counsel from Him that is helpful in knowing how to look at such situations, but please don't take this and use it as a blueprint to try and figure out which you should do in your personal situation. Ask the Lord and He'll tell you‚ and will also comfort your heart in regards to whichever need you're not able to fill at the time. Whatever you do, don't let the Enemy condemn you. Act on what the Lord tells you in full faith, and know that He will take care of the rest. Obviously, you can't do everything, and if you really are willing to leave the choice with Jesus, He will show you the best choice for each situation, and will take care of the other needs in your absence. As Dad always said, "His shoulders are broad enough to carry any load." Thank the Lord!

75. (Jesus: ) Deciding when to put your personal family's needs first and when to put the work of My Kingdom first is a matter of balancing the pros and cons, the priorities as I will show them to you.

76. What do you stand to lose? What does the greater Family stand to lose? Can that loss be redeemed later, or is this the one and only time to take action?

77. It's not a black-and-white issue, because in most cases someone will lose a little, someone has to make a sacrifice. What is needed and the answer for one situation is not necessarily the same answer for everyone or every situation. It's a choice and it almost always means some sacrifice. It means not everyone will get what they want or even what they need from you at the time. But the important thing to consider is whether or not that need is so important, so great‚ that you can't afford not to meet it and do your best to fulfill it.

78. There will always be needs. You're constantly surrounded by them, whether it's the greater Family and My calling to serve them, or your personal life and family. It's important to remember too that just because something is a need, you shouldn't automatically assume that you have to meet it personally. Maybe you should meet it, but maybe not. Ask Me to show you and explain My reasoning. This will relieve you of any feelings of guilt or worry, and give you peace that you're in My will, doing the right thing.

79. Especially when it comes to matters of your personal family that can weigh on your heart, don't let them slide by without asking Me specifically what I want you to do. I know what you have the faith for and I'll open the way before you according to your faith.

80. Often there is no "right" or "wrong" decision, because I give you a choice between alternative "goods." But some decisions will be better than others, and you can determine this through counsel and prayer and hearing from Me. You can determine what is the wisest decision at the time by bringing several questions before Me that will help to guide you in My will. I will give you clear counsel and steps to take so that you will have peace of mind, knowing you're in My will.

81. Concerning your personal family, ask Me questions such as:

*What do they need and how can I fulfill it the best way possible?

*Will my attention and time with them bear the fruit needed? Is this the right time to invest that time and attention to give them the answer they need?

*Are there any drawbacks that I should know about, and if so, what are Your solutions?

*Am I being overly influenced by personal feelings of worry or guilt or failure as a parent? If my feelings are out of perspective, please show me Your will and how to see things from Your perspective. Help me to make a decision without feelings of fear or guilt, one based on Your counsel.

*If I don't attend to my personal family in some way now, will there be serious negative consequences, serious enough that it would either be a reproach to the work, or cause a very difficult situation, or hurt their faith and stumble their service for You beyond repair?

*Is the answer found in me personally doing something—visiting, communicating, etc.‚ or is there another answer You want to show me?

*Is my personal presence the most important thing needed, the only thing that will help, or is there some other answer You want to show me?

82. Concerning your work in the greater Family:

*Will my present investment of time and attention with my personal family cause a loss to the field and Your work in some way that can't be repaired? Will the loss be permanent and the work be set back or suffer seriously in some way?

*Or will it mean a loss of training or valuable input that can't be received again, that will be a key to progress and victories in the work? Are the progress and victories that should be won now, through my involvement, so important that it outweighs my personal family's needs at the moment?

*Are the greater Family's needs right now more crucial in some way that I can't afford not to attend to them, even if it means my personal family will be sacrificing in some way?

83. Both are important and needed, and you must seek Me for the balance. Often the hard choices don't arise in serious matters as frequently as they do in more mundane ones. The right decisions in the more serious matters are generally more obvious‚ and you have more of a peace about them because it's obvious how important they are. Often choosing between the work and your family's needs will be difficult decisions to make because they're ongoing, everyday matters. They're all important—both sides are important—and you must seek Me for the answer.

84. Your personal family and the children I've given you are important. It's important that you care for their needs, that you're a sample of good parenting and My love for them, that your sample sends a signal to the greater Family that parenting and raising children is one of the most important jobs in My Kingdom.

85. But at the same time, you must be prayerful and careful that you're not easily persuaded by calls for help or personal family matters to the neglect of the greater Family and your place of service. Giving your personal family more time and attention to the neglect of the work will send the wrong signal that I and My work in the greater Family take second place. So you must weigh everything in the balance and prayerfully consider where the greater damage could be done if you neglect one or the other, where the greater progress and victory will be won as you invest your time and attention in one or the other.

86. In some situations concerning your personal family, it's easy to discern that your personal attention is needed and the right thing to do—such as medical emergencies or death, some crisis or traumatic situation. If your attention, either by your presence or in some other way‚ would be the determining factor to prevent something very serious going wrong, then it's important that you invest that time.

87. There are times when your overall Family responsibilities‚ as important as they are, should take second place to your personal family if it means saving your family's physical or spiritual life, or preserving the security of the rest of the Family. Ask Me and I can show when you've reached one of those times, and I can show you what to do or confirm your decision. Your personal family's happiness and well-being are very important, and you should do all you can to help them be happy and fulfilled. It could also at times mean spending more personal time with them, or somehow giving them your love and attention, even if from a distance. It might also mean physically being present, but it doesn't always have to mean that.

88. Sometimes what those in your personal family think they need isn't always what's best for them. Despite their cries for help and comfort, your physical presence might not be what I know is best. Sometimes I will show you that your presence is not what is really needed the most; perhaps they need your prayers the most, or your communication, or your sample of putting Me first, with the reassurance that the time will come for more personal contact. Decisions of when to put your personal family matters before the overall work are difficult to make, but I will guide you as you come to Me and seek Me with specific questions.

89. You who carry roles both as leaders and parents naturally struggle with the balance. The answer is not to focus more on one than the other. If you do‚ you'll always struggle with the feeling that you're missing something, not fulfilling one of your roles. The answer is in asking Me to show you what you should do when, and being faithful to follow through with it. You have to accept that you can't do everything, that there is a balance. You can give your attention to both roles without guilt if you seek Me for what to do when, and how much time to spend doing it.

90. Both roles are needed, My loves‚ and the only way to know what to do is to ask Me and be willing to do what I show you. (End of message from Jesus.)

Praise and Positiveness—

And a Hatred of the Enemy!

91. (Comment from a CO:) I'm fighting for a praise revolution in my life. Whenever I start feeling discouraged or overwhelmed, and even before it hits, I praise. It's something that's been lacking in my life‚ and I'm trying to cooperate with the Lord to activate the key of praise in my life. Sometimes I feel like maybe I battle more with negativity because of my job and dealing with so many problems, but again I know victory is a state of mind and positiveness is a way of life, no matter what the circumstances. I made a commitment to be positive, optimistic, and even excessively happy. I want to turn on the light in my life in that sense, claiming the keys and expecting a miracle. After the above commitments I've felt very attacked lately with depression. (It sounds horrible to actually say that!) It will come like a wave out of nowhere and I feel as if a huge weight is on me. When I feel so heavy-hearted, I claim the keys, praise, sing‚ or whatever, and the Lord pulls me out of it.

92. (Dad:) Honey, you are fighting and you are overcoming. When you start going over the top, you simply have to expect that you're going to get fought harder at first. You also have to expect that you're going to stumble and fall some at first. The Devil has to be convinced that you mean business, and he's going to throw some of his hardest punches right at the start of the battle because he's hoping you'll get discouraged and give up, leaving the field to him. That's the only way he can win‚ is if you give up.

93. Let me ask you something: Why are you working at this? Is it because someone told you to? Is it because you feel you have to, to be a sample to others? Or is it because you hate the inroads of the Enemy into your life through this and you're determined to send him tumbling back to Hell where he belongs? You might have decided to take this step initially for one of the first reasons, but if you want a real, total victory, it's going to have to be for that last reason.

94. If you were furious at someone because they were threatening to hurt your children and you were lashing out at them to protect your little ones‚ and they socked you in the process and knocked you off your feet, do you think you'd just say‚ "Ow! Hey‚ that hurt! I'm not going to fight you anymore. You can do what you want!" Hell no! If I know you, and I do, you'd be back on your feet in a flash, hitting them harder than ever! The temporary defeat would only fire you up even more and make you sock them back even harder!

95. Well, the Devil has his imps working on your thoughts, feeding you things that he knows could get you on a negative track and depressed if you listen to them. He sees you striving to pick up the key of praise and he's scared to death of that. So he launches an attack, and you find your attempt to gain this victory appears to be defeated.

96. The truth is that it's only a defeat if you give up. But if you let that anger and hatred for the imp that's causing the trouble boil over, and lash out with even more determination than ever that he's not going to stop you, then you've won the battle. He'll come around for a while trying his dirty tricks, but if they only make you fight harder, he'll soon give up.

97. There is no trait, mindset, habit, or thought pattern that the keys cannot overcome. But some people forget that you have to act on your faith in the keys, both in claiming them and in refusing to accept the Enemy's lies against them. The keys are activated by your faith in them. Some of these thought patterns are deeply ingrained‚ which means you've got to be determined to keep at it no matter what, and if you stumble, ask the Lord for the fury of His Spirit against evil. (End of message from Dad)

*

98. (Samson:) The Lord has called me to be your coach in these battles‚ dear one. I was a man who had lots of weaknesses, yet the Lord made me a judge over His people to speak His Words. He knew that I hated evil and would defend His children with my life. There were also times when I had to go to great lengths to overcome some problems that I had created myself.

99. But despite my many failings, I had two traits that caused me to stand up and accomplish the Lord's will when He needed me. The first was a deep hatred for evil. The second was a deep love for the people and a desire to protect them at all costs. They had to hear the Lord's Word and counsel, which often they couldn't find on their own.

100. That's a side of my ministry that you don't hear much about, but as a judge it was almost a daily occurrence. People would bring their problems to me‚ expecting me to solve them. I was very analytical and thought I could use reason and come to logical conclusions that would work.

101. When I tried to figure it out by myself, I would usually get it wrong. This happened a lot at first. Things were going badly and the people were beginning to question why I was made a judge over them. I thought I was reaching logical conclusions, but it was very apparent to the people, and eventually to me, when I was trying too hard in my own understanding.

102. I began to get depressed, and that led to more negativity, which led to more mishandling of my job. I reached a point where late one night I went out into the wilderness to pray. I hadn't done that very much up until then, but I was getting desperate. I sat on a big rock and the weight of all I had to bear seemed to be heavier than a millstone hanging around my neck. Here I was trying to get right with God and do the right thing, and instead I was being hit with such despair, heavier than ever before. I was strong in the flesh, but in the spiritual warfare I was a babe.

103. I looked up‚ and there were dozens of hissing serpents surrounding the rock I was sitting on! Their fangs and eyes seemed to glow like fire. Then a voice came to me. It was calm and peaceful and it said, "The poison of the Enemy‚ which he is pouring on your heart through feelings of negativity and despair over your failings and the problems of those I have called you to minister to, is as deadly to your soul as these serpents are to your body. Yet I give you the power to rid yourself of both if you will refuse to allow either of these things to touch your spirit, but will drive them out with My fury."

104. He then told me to leap in fury on the serpents. That made no sense to me. It was the opposite of "right." I struggled for a moment, and the serpents moved closer to the base of the rock. I knew it was either believe or be killed, and in that moment I chose to trust the voice of the Lord. I took a flying leap at them with a scream of fury and hatred for these evil creatures, and there I was, standing on the ground. They had vanished, and with them had gone the despair and sense of hopelessness.

105. From that time onward, though the battles continued in other ways, I had the source of victory every time. You must build conviction on the trust that, come what may, you are going for it, and have a hatred for the Enemy and his inroads in your life and want to destroy them. So when the time came and the voice told me to push those pillars apart, it was just one more impossible situation that no man could do, but I was able to step out by faith one last time to do the thing that was impossible.

106. That's my mission, dear one: to help you reach for that which your mind says can't be done‚ and to kindle your hatred of the Enemy and all the ways he tries to attack you. You have many exploits ahead of you—maybe not any pillars to knock down, but works that are mighty and powerful and just as miraculous.

107. Just like me, though, you have to start with your own life and practice on yourself‚ and then when you're ready He's going to use you mightily to help many others to have the faith for the impossible. That's been a weakness that He's going to turn into a strength if you're willing to go through the transformation. It won't be easy at times, but He'll make even your blunders work for good if you will wholeheartedly and unconditionally do whatever He shows you to do. I'll be here supporting you. (End of message from Samson.)

Just a Closer Walk …

(Received by one of our WS members who was suffering several painful and debilitating afflictions, and at the same time the small unit she was living in was going through some major changes in personnel and housing.)

108. (Dad sings:)

Just a closer walk with Thee.

Grant it, Jesus, it's my plea.

Daily walking close to Thee.

Let it be‚ dear Lord‚ let it be.

109. Sweetheart, all that you are experiencing is part of that closer walk. When your desire is to do as the Master pleases, to become one with Him, you can be sure that the tests, trials and tribulations you go through will be doing just that. It's all part of drawing you closer to Him, to become one with Him. It's the leaving of your self behind and allowing the Lord to have more control.

110. You've got to keep fighting, keep going, keep doing what you can do each day. You have to trust the Lord for what you are unable to do. You can't pretend that your physical afflictions aren't there and they will just go away. They won't. You can commit your situation and condition to the Lord, though. You can commit your way to the Lord and trust in Him and know that when you do so, He will establish your thoughts. He'll keep you, sweetheart.

111. Don't worry about how everything is going to turn out in the end‚ how it will be there in your little unit, and if you'll be healed of these different afflictions. That causes you to worry, as you think about how it's all going to turn out. But your own thoughts and conjectures won't get you anywhere‚ except most likely discouraged, downcast, and downhearted. When you start thinking in your own mind about these things, you're not using the Lord's mind, so He's unable to influence you and get in there to help you think the way you should.

112. When you ponder these different issues, the Enemy comes in. Since the carnal realm is his realm, he can work your carnal mind over, and the end result is only more confusion, more questions, more doubt and discouragement. You've gotta keep your mind and thoughts on the Lord and His Word, not on your situation and circumstances.

113. There are many practical and physical things that have to be attended to every day. What you need to do is commit those things to the Lord; ask Him to give you His mind so that you can address those practical issues with His Spirit. That way you are leaning on Him and not to your own understanding. You're acknowledging Him in all your ways, and then you can have peace, knowing He will be directing your steps. And He will keep each of your steps. Not one of them will slide. That's His promise to you.

114. The Lord gives you power for the hour‚ this hour. You don't need to worry about the next hour, much less any hours after that. Be confident in that. The Lord will give you the faith and all that you need as you need it. As your days, so will your strength be. Resist the thoughts that get you ahead of the present. It's not that you don't plan for those events you know are coming—the Endtime, coming persecution, those events the Lord has asked you to prepare for. But you're not to worry about them. They'll come soon enough. Just do as you're told. Prepare. Hide His Word in your heart. Memorize. Be confident that He Who has begun a good work in you will perform it unto the end. Don't think about how He'll perform it; just be confident that He will when the time comes. Then rest in Him and live for Him today to the best of your ability.

115. What is that best? Obeying, submitting and yielding today. You won't always hit the mark, because you're not perfect. But try, and know that the Lord is a merciful God and it's as much a part of your training when you miss the mark as when you hit it. When you find yourself missing more than hitting the mark, that's when you know you'd better ask for help. You don't need to freak out, but you do need to realize it's time for some outside assistance. The Lord is faithful and He'll take care of you and will provide what you need if you're sincerely desiring it. He allows you to go through those times. It's part of His inner spiritual mechanism that He placed within you‚ to be sure you don't go off the deep end. He allows you to feel shaken up so you will cry out to Him and seek Him, so you'll stay close to Him and realize that without Him you're nothing. It's part of keeping you humble.

116. He has to allow you to experience that. You have to know that it's only Jesus and nothing of yourself, and that He's the Source of all power, of anything good that you do. It's Christ in you‚ not you in you. He's got to bring you to that point, so when the days of Great Tribulation come upon the Earth He'll be able to use you to do greater exploits. You will know Him, really know Him most intimately in the way He needs you to, unlike other Family members who were given the chance for such greater intimacy but declined.

117. It's that surrendering of your will and allowing Him to do whatsoever He wishes with you that will enable you to do what many others will not be able to do. In order to get you to that place, He has to break you and remake you. Right now He's using these afflictions to break you and remake you.

118. You don't understand what is happening to you. You feel like you're going to go out of your mind at times with this problem with your ears—the constant, incessant, loud ringing and screeching that continues night and day. You wonder why you're having this pain in your side which has recurred seemingly out of nowhere. You're getting attacked with problems with your swallowing again. You're wrist is hurting you when you type. You're feeling insecure with your present changes. Your emotions are not stable; you easily cry, experience sadness, are having feelings of "trouble on the horizon" in the form of persecution or changing world events. You're burdened for those you love. And all these different things are pressing on you. You feel the pressure; it's very close and very real. But you also feel the force field around you that is keeping all of these things from crushing you.

119. That force field is the power of the keys, the key craft that is with you, and all your spirit helpers, angels and spirit beings that have been assigned personally to you. You are experiencing the next phase in your spiritual growth. It's difficult for you, honey, I know. But I want to tell you that it's because you are doing something right that these things are taking place. You are making a conscious effort to communicate with your spirit helpers‚ to learn more about the keys, to use them, to call on them, to consistently be open to the Lord's thoughts and ways.

120. When you enter the realm of the spirit more, then the physical realm, the carnal mind, goes into shock. It's because you are used to doing something one way, thinking one way‚ being one way for many years, and you need to adjust to the Lord's spiritual upgrades. Learning to be proficient in the use of the keys, heavenly thought power‚ and full possession are upgrades that require the old thought patterns and attitudes to be totally wiped and written over. Knowledge of the increased activity of spiritual warfare, with disclosure of the various demons that fight you as well as the new spirit helpers you have available, has opened the spirit world to you more than ever before. The metanoia that the Family is experiencing, not to mention that fact that you are not the 25-year-old disciple that you were when you joined the Family, well, all these things can be a bit of an adjustment, wouldn't you say?

121. The Lord never gives you more than you can bear; you must remember that. And though in your case you may be more spiritually, physically and emotionally affected than others‚ that doesn't mean you need to be alarmed. God made each of His children unique. He made you the way you are because that's the way He needs you to be. It wasn't a mistake. You weren't a fluke that isn't going to pan out. You might feel that way, but God made you the way He did so that He may be glorified. He is going to take your physical, carnal, emotional weaknesses and turn them into strength—His strength made perfect in your weakness. Don't worry, honey. He won't fail you. He won't allow you to fall apart or crack up or break down—well, at least not any more than He needs you to in order to accomplish His will. Ha!

122. See‚ sometimes He's gotta allow you to go through these things so that there's nothing left of you. If you feel like you're just a vegetable mentally, that you're not much physically, it's okay. God isn't limited by that. He is limited when you have it all together and are going full steam in your own strength—that strength which has always done things "this way" and knows the way and keeps going that way with a little prayer on the side. It just doesn't cut the mustard anymore, as the saying goes. It's only when everything you've ever known and thought and all the ways you've been used to doing things is erased that He can come in and rewire you. It's the renewing of your mind, the washing and regeneration of the Holy Ghost.

123. You didn't think that once you joined the Family and learned the ropes, that was the end of it, did you? Of course not. We are a revolution for Jesus, always changing! All things change. The dregs have got to keep coming to the top to overflow and be washed away. The stirring of the pot has to take place. Old things have to pass away. And it's not easy‚ sweetheart. I went through it too. When you get older it's not easy‚ but it is possible.

124. You can't do the things you used to do. You don't have the same energy and you're not quick on your feet like you used to be. Well, that's great. I'm happy about that, because now you're being forced to look to the Lord more. You've got to look to Him for a lot of things you took for granted in the past. You've got to look to Him to keep your mind and emotions, your body, to be able to carry out your tasks‚ all sorts of things. That's great, honey. In the past you might have said a little prayer and off you went into your routine. You had your health. You were strong. You had the energy. Now you are broken in health‚ you're not strong like you once thought you were, and you don't have all that energy. You feel weak in mind. Honey, I want to tell you that you're in great condition for the Lord to work in your life in the ways that are important for this time.

125. You wonder how it might be for the young people? You think, "They aren't going through these things, so how does that work for them?" Well, they have another set of trials—one of those trials being the pull of the world and not having been in it. The Lord is allowing them to go through it and make their decisions. They are sorely tempted with the world and it is very appealing to them‚ and the Lord is allowing it because only those who believe by faith in His Word and shun what they "see" will be strong enough to survive in the Lord's Endtime army.

126. Don't worry about all these afflictions. The Lord will see you through them and they will serve their purpose. He will deliver you out of them all. Please don't get down and discouraged. Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth, right? It's all part of keeping you humble and breaking you, sweetheart. Just keep praying, praising, holding on to the Word, and don't worry about all the times you break down and cry and feel like you're washed up and a terrible mess.

127. What's important? The important thing is to trust the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all of your ways, and He will direct your paths. He is directing your path. It's a very pleasant path, though it may not feel like it or seem like it. It's the path that will lead to life‚ spiritual life. You're on the right path, I want you to know that. Okay? Don't let the Enemy scare you out. He's trying to, but that's because he's scared. He knows his doom is sure. So don't worry about how you feel or how you perceive you are doing; keep following and obeying the Lord and you'll come out of this just fine. I love you. (End of message from Dad.)

Prayer Is …

128. (Mama:) To close this GN, here is a beautiful message from the Lord about prayer. As Dad always said, "Love, humility and prayer solve all problems." If you're feeling overwhelmed, try taking some time to pray for others. The Lord will not only help them in answer to your prayers, but it will help to lift your own burdens and put things back into perspective. Praying is tapping into the power that makes all good things possible. Try it.

129. (Jesus: ) Praying is reaching out to someone in need and giving them the most precious gift ever, aside from salvation. It's sacrificing your time, energy, and strength, and giving it to another in the spirit. It's putting your trust in My power and having faith in My ability to work miracles.

130. Praying is making a choice to live in the realm of the spiritual and believing that it's in that realm that battles are won. It's tapping into My great power and channeling it to someone else in need. It's acknowledging that a job is too big for human hands, and asking Me to intercede and get the job done when you know those involved can't do so on their own.

131. Praying is forsaking your pride‚ your carnality, and leaving the realm of the flesh behind. It's fighting in the spirit. It's laying aside your important work and to-dos, and investing in ways that matter tremendously and make a difference in the lives of many others.

132. Praying is the greatest expression of your trust in My power and omnipotence, your acknowledgment that I am all-powerful and will radically alter or change any situation. It's sending up power to the great reservoir of Heaven, and then watching that power be unleashed at My command.

133. Praying is humbling yourself before Me and others, and asking Me to do what you can't do. It's forgetting yourself and your own problems, battles, afflictions, and difficulties, and thinking about others. It's saying‚ "I can't, Lord, but You can!" and then watching Me do the impossible.

134. Praying is getting down on your hands and knees and beseeching Me. It's thinking of nothing else but that person or situation you're praying for. It's focusing and hitting the target. Praying is a selfless act that immediately gives you bonuses in Heaven, and signs you up for extra blessings for the present and rewards for eternity.

135. Praying is fighting to defeat the Enemy and all of his demons who seek to attack‚ hinder and cause My brides harm. It's also a vehicle for wielding and using the keys, for activating the greatest power in the universe, and creating a direct link between Heaven and Earth.

136. Praying is a sacrificial, tiring, and often thankless job, but not one prayer is ever wasted. Thank you, My loves‚ for giving your all to your greatest duty and calling, the one that will reap dividends forever. (End of message from Jesus)

Copyright © 2004 by The Family

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