Today's Eye View

GOD BROUGHT THIS BACK TO ME AND SAID POST IT AGAIN. GOD'S BLESSINGS AND DESIRE FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS BE TO THEY THAT READ.

January 31, 2010

Nightfall

All too often, we find ourselves in the heat of difficulty and we recall the Word of God and the Promises of God over our lives.  What often happens is we tend to want to rush toward the triumphant conclusion of the matter while hurrying through the difficulties.  As I began one such journey, I came to the realization that no matter how much I want the hard times to be over, and the pain to be short lived, it's all a part of the necessary process of accomplishing God's assignment on my life. 
As the sting of rejection marked the beginning of my night season, I began to cry out to God and He answered:

ME:  I know Your Word, Father; and I trust every promise you've made to me.  There is no shortage of scripture that comes to mind which encourages me to hold on to Your hands.  But God, the grief is so real and the loss seems so great.  While hearing in my spirit, "The best is yet to come," I'm finding it difficult to see beyond where I am right now.  You see, the sun isn't out in its bright glow.  The clouds are thick and gray.  There is but a sliver of light piercing through the darkness.  Yet why can't I focus on the that tiny light?  Why does it seem so dark all around me right now?

GOD:  I'll tell you My child.  It's because right now, for you, its nightfall.  Just like My time spent in Gesthemane, you have been brought to the place of full obedience--where the choices you make now will impact eternity.  Though you are feeling the crushing weight of grief, fear and pain, remember:  After the determination of full obedience--comes betrayal.  After betrayal comes the intense suffering for My Name's sake (2Timothy 2:12).  Then comes the crucifixion of your life's plans, thoughts, ideas and intents (Galatians 2:20).  Then and ONLY then, can resurrection come (Romans 6:8 and 8:10). 
You can't experience resurrection without death.  You won't experience death without suffering.  You wont experience suffering without betrayal.  You won't experience betrayal without a stand for COMPLETE obedience--no matter the cost.  You see, My child, nightfall is necessary.  My nightfall produced My greatest Victory...for it was then that I conquered, hell and the grave (Ephesians 4:8-10, Revelation 1:18).  During My nightfall, I made an put your eternal enemy to an OPEN shame AND triumphed over him and his chorts (Colossians 2:15).  It was during nightfall that I FOREVER altered the course of YOUR life and ensured your VICTORY and guaranteed your status as MORE than a conqueror (Romans 8:37). 
So you see, if you will but embrace your nightfall; from My perspective and in the safety of My loving hands, you will see the manifestation of the Victories I've promised you--while being resurrected in the newness of life IN ME!  Remember My servant's admonitions to you:

1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."

James 1: 2-12 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

2 Peter 1:4-12 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Psalm 91: ALL "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."

Your joy and victory is assured and My promises to you are yea and amen.  This valley you are currently walking through will indeed prepare you for reigning in the earth.  You WILL see My mighty hand of salvation and My love shall cover and shield you.  You will not only survive, but live to accomplish all that I have ordained for your life IF you embrace TOTAL OBEDIENCE and allow Me to walk you through this, your NIGHTFALL. 

February 2, 2010

NIGHTFALL,  PART 2

While walking through the valley of my own nightfall, David's familiar words come to mind:

Psalm 55

(Amplified Bible)

    ²Attend to me and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan

    ³[And I am distracted] at the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression and threats of the wicked; for they would cast trouble upon me, and in wrath they persecute me.

    ⁴My heart is grievously pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

    ⁵Fear and trembling have come upon me; horror and fright have overwhelmed me.

    ⁶And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

    ⁷Yes, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

    ⁸I would hasten to escape and to find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

    ⁹Destroy [their schemes], O Lord, confuse their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

    ¹⁰Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in its midst.

    ¹¹Violence and ruin are within it; fraud and guile do not depart from its streets and marketplaces.

    ¹²For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me--then I might bear it; nor is it one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me--then I might hide from him.

    ¹³But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend.

    ¹⁴We had sweet fellowship together and used to walk to the house of God in company.

    ¹⁵Let desolations and death come suddenly upon them; let them go down alive to Sheol (the place of the dead), for evils are in their habitations, in their hearts, and their inmost part.

    ¹⁶As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.

    ¹⁷Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice.

    ¹⁸He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], for they were many who strove with me.

    ¹⁹God will hear and humble them, even He Who abides of old--Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!--because in them there has been no change [of heart], and they do not fear, revere, and worship God.

    ²⁰[My companion] has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has broken and profaned his agreement [of friendship and loyalty].

    ²¹The words of his mouth were smoother than cream or butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

    ²²Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).^(A)

    ²³But You, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in, lean on, and confidently rely on You.

Psalm 91

    ²I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

    ³For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

    ⁴[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

    ⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

    ⁶Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

    ⁷A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

    ⁸Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

    ⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,^(A)

    ¹⁰There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

    ¹¹For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

    ¹²They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.^(B)

    ¹³You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.^(C)

    ¹⁴Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

    ¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

    ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Matthew 5:44-48

(Amplified Bible)

⁴⁴But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^(A)

    ^45[a]To show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].

    ⁴⁶For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?

    ⁴⁷And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles (the heathen) do that?

    ⁴⁸You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete ^[b]maturity of godliness in mind and character, ^[c]having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(B)

^{Remember, your nightfall is necessary.  It's part of YOUR growth and development.  Betrayal by those close too you is vital in your journey to fulfilling your destiny.  Once you learn how to love your enemies, love those who have taken your weaknessess and used them AGAINST you, love in spite of...THEN you will have gained the ability to love like ME and will be prepared to go forth and make EFFECTIVE disciples of My people.  No more of these soft, weak, temperamental babies that never learn to eat table food.  No more of these fly by night "servants" who only serve as it provides for their fleshly desires.  You'll learn how to love as I love and understand as I do.  You'll be the epitomy of wise as a serpent...yet harmless as a dove.  It's always darkest before dawn.  The winds will get stronger and the night will become darker.  BUT I, YOUR GOD SHALL KEEP YOU AND DELIVER YOU AND PRESENT YOU FAULTLESS BEFORE MY FATHER AND THEN SHALL THE MANIFESTATION OF MY FAVOR BLESSING ON YOUR LIFE BE SEEN IN THE EARTH.  It won't be much longer, just stay close to Me and Allow Me to walk you through...NIGHTFALL.}