Closer than a brother

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
The Lord spoke to me strongly about this today and I know I needed to hear it, however, He said there is someone else that needs to know it too. Maybe someone that knew it and has forgotten, I don't know, it is only up to me to obey the Lord. I pray this speaks to you as it did to me.
This is what the Lord said:
I know you are lonely, I know you are searching for something - someone. I am here. Seek me.
I AM the friend that sticks closer than a brother. I have given you those I wish you to have in your life for now, but you need to seek Me. It's really just you and I. Put your trust in Me, and see if I am not all you need. Lean on Me. I will fill every empty space in your heart and in your life. You will not find what you seek until our relationship is set in stone. Others have hurt you, you have hurt others. This cycle needs to stop, it cannot continue, I will not allow it. Come to Me now, open your heart to Me. Let Me work through you - get out of yourself and out of My way. Make My will your will in every aspect of your life, not just some. I see you still hanging on to some of your own old ways with one hand while trying to grasp Me with the other. I tell you again you cannot serve two masters, you are seeking things that are outside My will and not of Me, but you already know this. Let go - let Me have your whole heart, commit everything to Me and see if I will not fill every empty void in your life. You cannot love because you are trying to love in the physical. Give Me your heart so you can love in the spiritual. I did not put you here to judge and walk away because you are disillusioned with people. They are My responsibility, do what I tell you, pray and love. I say to you, pray for My will in ALL areas. Pray for the mind of Christ, pray for the heart of Christ, pray for the Holy Spirit. Then and only then can you love like I do, then and only then will your heart be repaired. Then and only then can you truly appreciate every single person I put in your path. Nothing happens by chance. I am NOT a God of chance but I am THE God of second chances and third chances and more. Cleanse your heart, give it to Me totally so I may fill it. Get rid of all those things whether spiritual or physical that come between you and I so that I can show you ALL I have in store for you.
Know My ways and walk in them. Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people: and walk you in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well to you.
I have given you Godly people in your life, cling to me, cling to them until you are truly prepared to go out again and share the annointing I have placed on you. You have much still to learn, learn from me. I love you my child, my heart is crying out to you, accept what I have to offer.

Spiritual Atrophy

Have your spiritual muscles atrophied?

Atrophy: degeneration, decline, or decrease, as from disuse.

How many of us have let our spirits atrophy? We try to ride on past gifts, past ministry, past Bible reading, past praying. We cannot get by on what we used to be or what we used to do. I've heard many people say, "I used to read my Bible", "I used to pray everyday", "I've been a christian all my life." Being a christian all our lives doesn't necessarily mean we are going to make it into the Kingdom of God. What are we doing with Christ right now? Who is He to us right now? Are the works we did 10 years ago, 5 years ago, even 6 months ago going to get us into the Kingdom of God? Not necessarily. The Bible says we will be known by our fruits. If we are not continuously bearing fruit then how will we be known. I believe God will make exceptions for those who are ill or have real problems that keep them from working for Him but what about the rest of us? We have to be about the Father's business and we cannot rely on our past works to carry us through.

I've heard an old expression, "once a preacher, always a preacher" and theoretically that may be true but if a preacher doesn't get fed, continue to study his bible and pray, eventually he will start preaching the same messages over and over again. As preachers, teachers and children of God we need to be continuously searching the word of God for revelation from the Holy Spirit. If we don't we stagnate. There is more in the Bible than one person can possibly remember or get the first time through. God has many messages for us. The first being to have no other Gods before Him. The second to love our neighbor as ourselves. However, there are many, many things God wants us to know and share with others and the only way we will know is by continously studying His word. Sometimes what He wants to reveal to us is the truth behind an old belief we have carried around all our lives.

We are told in the gospel of Luke, chapter 9 vs 23 - And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. The key word here is "daily" not once in a while, not serve me for six months and then coast, not serve me for 40 years and then coast but DAILY. Paul did not cease to teach and preach the gospel. Jesus taught until His death. We are not once saved always saved, we must continue to fight the good fight.

1 Timothy 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ! Does that sound like we are supposed to sit back and rest on our laurels until the Lord comes. No, we must be about the Father's business. We've got to exercise our spiritual muscles. How do we do that? By hitting our knees, reading God's word, teaching, preaching and testifying until Jesus Himself splits the clouds in glory and the trumpet sounds. Then my friend, we can rest, not only that, we can rest for eternity with Jesus Christ our Lord when He says to us, "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord." Praise God! What a day, glorious day that will be!

Until next time, may God richly bless and keep you and yours,

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

Tawana