Close your hands into a fist loosely in front of you. Next, take a deep breath in and then slowly let it out.
Now, look at your closed fists in front of you and imagine that your own hands are in fact mine – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Just look at them and then slowly open up your fists so that your palms are facing you. Take a moment and imagine that your own name is engraved in bold type, right there on those palms. How does this make you feel?
Now, what if I told you I have, in fact, engraved your name into the palm of my hands. That I will not forget you. You will not be, nor have you ever been forgotten — you are engraved into the palms of My hands.
15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.
I Am a warrior, but I Am also your gentle Father. I know when to rule with strength and when to tenderly lead.
Do not mistake my righteous arm as a branch to beat the lambs with. Be gentle and tender with those who follow Me – including yourself. The enemy comes in like a lion, looking for who He can devour, but I Am meek and lowly. My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Be wise, and know the compassion in My voice towards my flock. Do not mistake the harsh voice of the enemy as My voice. I speak life. I speak hope. I speak conviction, not condemnation. I speak comfort and joy to My flock, even as I stand as a mighty warrior guarding over them.
Activation: Read the words of this scripture aloud and know the Lord’s compassion for you and those around you. Ask for a discerning heart to know the difference between conviction and condemnation.
The Greatness of Yah
1“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.
2 “Speak [a]kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her [b]warfare has ended, that her [c]guilt has been removed, that she has received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”
Isaiah 40:1-2 (NASB) Footnotes [a] Isaiah 40:2 Lit to the heart of [b] Isaiah 40:2 Or hard service [c] Isaiah 40:2 Or penalty of guilt accepted as paid off
10 Behold, the Lord [a]God will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His compensation is with Him, and His reward before Him.
11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in the fold of His robe;He will gently lead the nursing ewes.
Isaiah 40:10-11 (NASB) Footnotes [a] Isaiah 40:10 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
How many times have you talked about how I Am the Good Shepherd who will leave the ninety-nine to go after the one? Oh, how you love Me and thanked Me for coming after you. Yet, some of you have forgotten that you were that one. You have stopped praying for people to come to know Me, and have instead started to beg Me to come back, today. Even complaining, when is soon, Lord?
I wanted to remind you that I am not delayed or late in coming. I am coming back – that is a promise – but I am patiently waiting for the one, just like I waited for you.
As it says in 2 Peter 3:15 (NLT): And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved…
The Lord our God is Holy
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion; He is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name! Holy is He!
4 The King in His might loves justice.[a] You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is He!
Take a moment today to pause and reflect on the life you have lived with our loving heavenly Father.
Ask Holy Spirit to remind you of days gone by where Yahuah moved and shifted things for you; where He handed you the victory; where He restored what you thought was lost.
The Lord says to you today: Remember who it is that you belong to! Am I not the God of restoration? The Father who can be trusted to lead you to green pastures? As you step into this new year, remember who I am! I have gone before you to make your path straight. I know the provision you need. I know the breakthrough you need. I am a good and faithful Father whose love for you stretches beyond human comprehension. Choose to trust Me today and let your faith arise!
Activation: Spend some time praising the Lord for all He is. As you praise Him, ask for a deeper revelation of His character so that you may transition into this new year seeing Him rightly.
3 . . . then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and He will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you.
4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will take you.
5 And the Lord your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers.
Deuteronomy 30:3-5 (ESV)
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
A Psalm for giving thanks.
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2Serve the Lord with gladness!Come into His presence with singing!
3 Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His;[a] we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates withthanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!
5 For the Lord is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100 (ESV) Footnotes [a] Psalm 100:3 Or and not we ourselves
Like a perfectly cut diamond, you shine with My brilliance!
Do you realise that you carry My light? That as I dwell within you, you are filled with My light. This light cascades through you like the sun, brilliant and warm.
Shine that light forth!
Shine that light into the darkness. It is the light of purity, revelation, and truth because it comes from Me, Yahusha HaMashiach. Just like the sun’s rays bring life to the plants and trees, my light brings life and clarity. I desire you to be a light in the dark places. To share My light with those who feel that all the lights have gone out. When you shine brightly for Me, you point people back to Me. The light you carry has power! Don’t hide this light away, for you do not need to fear carrying this light.
Embrace the brilliance; embrace the light within you and shine brilliantly for me.
Activation: Look into the spirit and ask Yahusha to show you how brightly you shine. Take a moment to reflect on what it means to shine for Yahusha. Spend time talking to Yahusha about how you can use this light to point others to Him.
78 The splendour-light of heaven’s glorious sunrise is about to break upon us in holy visitation, all because the merciful heart of our YAH is so very tender.
79 The word from heaven will come to us with dazzling light to shine upon those who live in darkness, near death’s dark shadow. And He will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace.
Luke 1:78-79 (TPT)
4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:4-5 (NIV)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?
I hear the cry of the Father’s heart saying: My Son, my Son, behold my Son. Look at my Son.
Behold His beauty and His grace. Is He not my best? Did I not send my best to you? Did I not send my most beloved to you? Behold my Son.
You may know Him as Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace, but I know him as my Son.
Look upon my Son. Consider my Son. His name is Jesus.
Consider the eternal redemption my Son obtained for you. Consider my Son, what he gave up and His willingness to lay down his life for yours even while you were still a sinner and separated from Us.
My Son, my Son, I love my Son. He did what no man could do and He never considered disobedience. He went because I asked him to. He went as a tender, helpless baby, became a man and took upon himself the pain and penalty of sin for mankind.
Look into the cup in His hand and do not look away from the wrath within. Look into the cup and as the gravity of what you see inside begins to penetrate through the layers of your heart, my Son will uphold you. As the full weight of Yahusha’s sacrifice permeates through you, allow His selflessness to draw you into a deeper understanding of Us and into a greater revelation of who I Am.
. . . and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:17 (NKJV)
. . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death . . .
Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
28 Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
This is a time of year in which most of us can become so weary and burdened with all the expectations and demands put upon us that we find it difficult to rest. We lie in bed worrying about all the things we have to do and we are so busy getting everything sorted for the holiday season. Rest does not factor into the equation.
There is another way.
Jesus asks us first to come; come with your burdens and weariness into his presence as he has a gift for you – rest. In that place, you can exchange your burdens for his yoke. Give him your weariness and receive rest.
And I hear you ask – how can a yoke be easy? It is not a yoke like an animal would wear. What He is offering is His hand. He is stretching out His hand to you right now, and all you have to do is take it. Let Him hold your hand, and He will guide you, protect you and comfort you.
So, come and take hold of the hand of Yahusha now and allow Him to help you navigate through this season in the position of rest.
What is your purpose? Why are you here? Are you here to live your life, to pursue a career, be a good wife or husband? Why are you here?
I want you to start digging deeper into the reason why you are here on this earth. Do you understand that you are not here just to live a life? You are not here to have a career, a family and to go to church on a Sunday. There is more.
I came to preach the gospel, to heal the broken-hearted, to set the captives free and recover the sight of the blind. Church, you are meant to do the same. That’s why you are here! You are built to push back the darkness and advance My Kingdom. Every decision you make should have that end goal. Why are you here? What is your purpose? And is the life that you’re living pointing towards that end goal?
Hasten the day of My return by doing the things that you’re meant to do! If you are in the marketplace, what seeds are you sowing, who are you telling about Me, how are you financing the Kingdom? If you are in education, how are you showing My love through your teaching? If you are in economics, what Kingdom strategies have you put in place?
The harvest is ripe but there are few harvesters. You are a harvester, you are a healer, you can heal the broken-hearted, set the captives free, all in My Name. Don’t think too little of yourself, it is I who lives in you! There is resurrection power inside of you! Go use it!
Activation: Ask the Lord what changes you can make in your day to day life to advance His Kingdom. Where can you sow seeds? Where can you harvest? Ask the Lord to help you get in alignment with his agenda and His goals. Ask Him to help you focus on your purpose on the earth.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
Luke 4:18 (NKJV)
But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.
One thing that is common to all humanity is that somewhere along the way, we will encounter troubles. Troubles come and troubles will go; it seems to be the cycle of life. As individuals, we often have a choice on how to navigate them and what the outcomes will be. We can respond out of the flesh and get angry, resentful, and offended, which could lead to the outcomes of bitterness, sickness, and hopelessness. Yes, we have all been there and made choices that we can learn from.
Today, consider your response to the troubles of now and the past. If they are somewhat lacking and producing problematic fruit, ask Holy Spirit to show you where you need to shift your perspective towards things like forgiveness, humility, and hopefulness.
Now, pray this prayer:
Father, would you help me make wise choices when troubles come my way and forgive me for holding wrong attitudes and behaviours. Forgive me for holding onto hurts and for being bitter. Help me to lay these things at your feet and to receive your forgiveness. Help me in the future to remember this moment when I face another challenge and put into practice what you show me. Amen
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
1 Peter 4:12-13 (NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience.
4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:2-5 (NKJV) Footnotes James 1:3 endurance or perseverance James 1:4 mature
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
My beloved children: I know that sometimes you look at your life and feel dissatisfied. You look at others standing on your right and your left and think to yourself, “How I wish my life looked like that!”
I would remind you today, don’t fixate on the journey of others. Fix your gaze on Me.
While others might seem like they are ahead of you, I would remind you that you all must walk before you run. What truly matters is our relationship with each other. Before you can jump into the bigger and brighter, you must first learn what it is to be truly satisfied by Me. It is what you experience in the secret place with Me that sets you up to run with wild abandon.
What you do in this life may never look flashy. You must be satisfied knowing that I see you. I love you. I validate you.
When you learn to satisfy yourself in Me, you begin to see yourself for who you really are. You see yourself how I see you. Nothing you achieve in this world will satisfy you the way it does to spend time with Me, seated at My feet. It is there, at My feet, in a posture of abandoned adoration, that all you need to live a life of satisfaction is found.
Activation: Take a moment to search your heart, asking yourself, “do I find satisfaction in the Lord?” “Is my heart satisfied in you, Father?” Ask Holy Spirit to lead you through this process and shine a light on areas where you are not feeling satisfied. Process these areas with Holy Spirit, asking Him to lead you into a place of deeper satisfaction.
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their journey, they came to a village where a woman welcomed Jesus into her home. Her name was Martha and she had a sister named Mary. Mary sat down attentively before the Master, absorbing every revelation he shared . . . The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.“
Luke 10:38-39, 41-42 (TPT)
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11 (NIV)
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Unapologetically Marcia 