I cannot emphasize how much less your mouth needs to be open and your mind needs to be thinking, and how much more your ears need to be open and your eyes need to be watching.

I am always speaking My directives, My words of assurance, My words of caution. You must realize that your greatest hindrance is yourself. You know this in your head, but to receive it in your heart, your wellspring of life, you must undergo great discipline, and one of your greatest blessings will be to receive this discipline from My hand. All that I allow within your circumstances will serve to teach you this way of life. You must know the disciplined life of one who walks in continual repentance and forgiveness. My love is waiting to cleanse you as you obediently put off your self-life. Too many of My children hide from Me in shame over their sin; or, in pride, they attempt to cover it up. As if you could hide either yourself or your sin from Me!

If only you could grasp the height and depth of My love for you! If you only knew how much I was for you, you would run to the cross! Who would not want the cleansing and refreshing that comes from My blood? How can you be ashamed of something you inherited? You were born into original sin. You didn’t cause it, but you can participate on its behalf. If you say you are without sin, you deceive yourself. You must have a sober view of yourself. You were created in My image, yet your nature is steeped in sin. My Spirit will lift you out according to your discipline in seeking Me. Those who walk the narrow road do so with discipline and determination. Many runners run the race, but not everyone runs to win. You must run in order to win.

SCRIPTURE
Further References: Proverbs 20:9; Matthew 12:36-37; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 John 1:8-10

©2005 Deanna Deering, Masterpiece of the Wilderness