Paradigm Shift
Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by: Teresa Stevens Criswell
How often have I prayed for Love, Joy, Patience, etc...?
Investigators, counselors, leaders in many industries are taught not to just ask questions, but to ask the "right" ones.
The same goes with prayer...am I praying to get answers?
Or am I praying to draw closer to The One Who is The Answer?
In this awareness I begin to pray differently - prayer becomes communion versus a list of requests and "Get out of jail" pleas.
So here's an example...I became aware of Galatians 5:22-23 in my constant need of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...especially this past weekend.
A situation, actually a few situations of life this weekend caused stuff inside of me to come out that God so gently highlighted in hind sight. His gentleness surrounded me as He took me back to the scenes of different real life scenarios which allowed me to see my heart in sweet surrender.
The question that surfaced:
"Teresa, did your heart and actions reflect Me?"
And I was able to honestly answer - "No".
No matter what my surroundings were or what people I barely knew were doing or not doing, saying or not saying did not give me the right to say or behave with a poor attitude reflecting actions of plain ol' peasantry.
Later, as I reflected back on the weekend I said to my husband, "Babe, looking back I know I needed to stir up patience in those situations." And my husband also reflecting - with a pause - he also agreed. Yet moments later the Holy Spirit whispered, "Daughter, it was not patience that needed to be stirred"...then there was a pause to awaken insight in me...the Holy Spirit continued, "Patience is not what needed to be stirred...it is ALWAYS My Love THAT must stir you - Teresa, the only way My Unfailing, Faithful, Endless Love can be stirred within you is when I am the One stirring you within the moments of intimacy. From that place in Me is where the Evidence of My Presence permeates your heart as I Am Perfect Love. From the place within Me is when loving compassion arises and when My royalty overrides and stirs within you - stirring out every tendency of peasantry. Do you see Daughter? Teresa Ann, Grace Empowered Reaper of the Harvest. You are Mine - will you let Me have all of you, so ALL of ME can overwhelm you to overwhelm them with Myself? You don't need to pray these prayers for more evidence of Me whether it be love that is needed, or joy or patience...You just need to be AWARE that I Am here - I Am within you - I possess even your mortal body...I Am...Now will you let Me flow through you?
Teresa, I urge you..,no longer praise, worship or pray in The Spirit because you need My tools to get you through...Teresa...praise, worship and pray in The Spirit because You want Me as I Am The One Who gets you through - those "tools" are Me! Watch and be aware of what happens...You will see Me and as you draw closer to Me you end up resting in My heart where revelation and understanding automatically come at warp speeds.
Remember daughter..."The Fruit" of The Spirit is none other than "The Evidence" of My Spirit stirring within you. The Evidence is Me Who is Endless love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and The Evidence declares you belong to Me!"
Triumphant Victorious Reminder in Scripture:
"But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way."
~ Galatians 5:22-23 ~ The Message
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
Written by: Teresa Stevens Criswell
How often have I prayed for Love, Joy, Patience, etc...?
Investigators, counselors, leaders in many industries are taught not to just ask questions, but to ask the "right" ones.
The same goes with prayer...am I praying to get answers?
Or am I praying to draw closer to The One Who is The Answer?
In this awareness I begin to pray differently - prayer becomes communion versus a list of requests and "Get out of jail" pleas.
So here's an example...I became aware of Galatians 5:22-23 in my constant need of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...especially this past weekend.
A situation, actually a few situations of life this weekend caused stuff inside of me to come out that God so gently highlighted in hind sight. His gentleness surrounded me as He took me back to the scenes of different real life scenarios which allowed me to see my heart in sweet surrender.
The question that surfaced:
"Teresa, did your heart and actions reflect Me?"
And I was able to honestly answer - "No".
No matter what my surroundings were or what people I barely knew were doing or not doing, saying or not saying did not give me the right to say or behave with a poor attitude reflecting actions of plain ol' peasantry.
Later, as I reflected back on the weekend I said to my husband, "Babe, looking back I know I needed to stir up patience in those situations." And my husband also reflecting - with a pause - he also agreed. Yet moments later the Holy Spirit whispered, "Daughter, it was not patience that needed to be stirred"...then there was a pause to awaken insight in me...the Holy Spirit continued, "Patience is not what needed to be stirred...it is ALWAYS My Love THAT must stir you - Teresa, the only way My Unfailing, Faithful, Endless Love can be stirred within you is when I am the One stirring you within the moments of intimacy. From that place in Me is where the Evidence of My Presence permeates your heart as I Am Perfect Love. From the place within Me is when loving compassion arises and when My royalty overrides and stirs within you - stirring out every tendency of peasantry. Do you see Daughter? Teresa Ann, Grace Empowered Reaper of the Harvest. You are Mine - will you let Me have all of you, so ALL of ME can overwhelm you to overwhelm them with Myself? You don't need to pray these prayers for more evidence of Me whether it be love that is needed, or joy or patience...You just need to be AWARE that I Am here - I Am within you - I possess even your mortal body...I Am...Now will you let Me flow through you?
Teresa, I urge you..,no longer praise, worship or pray in The Spirit because you need My tools to get you through...Teresa...praise, worship and pray in The Spirit because You want Me as I Am The One Who gets you through - those "tools" are Me! Watch and be aware of what happens...You will see Me and as you draw closer to Me you end up resting in My heart where revelation and understanding automatically come at warp speeds.
Remember daughter..."The Fruit" of The Spirit is none other than "The Evidence" of My Spirit stirring within you. The Evidence is Me Who is Endless love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control and The Evidence declares you belong to Me!"
Triumphant Victorious Reminder in Scripture:
"But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way."
~ Galatians 5:22-23 ~ The Message
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