The Secret to JOY

PC: Sharon Surman Photography 

This morning I saw in my spirit someone leaving the trivial things and ascending the mountain of the Lord to be alone with him and give him their full attention. 

Lord, what are you saying about this? 

I hear him say: (10.25.22)

“I’m inviting my bride to come away with me while there is still time. The other things can wait. Tarry a little longer with me. Linger here in the stillness, where it’s you and me alone. You were created for me and my pleasure. You were created to find your freedom, fullness, and true value in me. 

Your true happiness is found in me. Other things in this world leave you high and dry. My love sustains you. Come and be alone with me. Find me infusing you with my peace and joy that cannot be taken from you. 

“I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy.”  John 16:22 

That joy I spoke of to my followers is the same joy I bestow upon you as you abide in me. It’s a bi-product of time in my presence. Your countenance will shine like Moses’ from my glory touching you. 

The secret to joy is putting every other idol aside and being with me. To truly live is to know me intimately. There are no shortcuts. There is nothing else that can come close to fellowship with me. 

Nothing else can adequately fill the holes in your heart but me. I am the heart doctor, I heal the broken hearted. I don’t put bandaids on wounds. I touch the deep places that have been hidden/buried and bring life, light, warmth, and total restoration. But you must come to receive my touch. 

Come, buy gold from me- costly gold- purified by fire. Then you will be rich! Without me your soul is a beggar, truly impoverished. This relationship with me is costly. It will cost you everything. It means forsaking all other lovers. It means rejecting the deceitfulness of wealth, the pleasures this world has to offer. 

What is holding you back from being wholeheartedly mine? 

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away.” 

It’s time to catch the wild foxes that spoil our vineyard. (Solomon 2:15) 

No one serving as a soldier entangles himself in the affairs of this life, that he might please the one having enlisted him. (2 Timothy 2:14) 

Sit with me and ask me to show you what you need to “pluck out.” Ask me what you need to step away from to gain greater perspective in me. Ask me what affairs of this life are hindering you from intimacy with me. Ask me for divine strategy to come away with me in the midst of your day. Set times to be with me alone. Sacrifice your schedule to me. I’m here waiting for you. Standing at the door of your heart, knocking once again. Many are called, few accept my invitation. (Matthew 22:14) 

It’s tricky, you must lower yourself. Humble yourself. Find yourself needy and wanting. Forsake all pride in religion and desperately desire fellowship with me above your reputation. No one can fulfill your role in our relationship. No one can come take your seat at my table. It’s reserved only for you. A lot of the things you do someone else could fulfill, or they could be left till later. There is a more fruitful work for you. It’s letting me love you. It’s finding time for me first. Read Revelation 3:15-22.

 I’m not condemning you. If the shoe fits, kick it off. I bring conviction to purify and call you higher. Allow me to clean the inside of your cup. I LOVE YOU! 

Come buy oil. Without me you’re dry and empty. Only in me can you thrive. 

My love is beckoning you like a lighthouse on a dark and stormy night. Come, find a safe place of harbor in my love.

A prayer response to that word you can pray along with me.. 

“Let my heart tarry in you today, Lord. Let me wait in quietness before you. As the still waters reflect the skies, let my stillness reflect your majesty today. I have calmed and quieted my soul within my Lord. (Psalm 131) Your Spirit has lordship over my mind, will and emotions today. They bow before you. I enter into you peace, rest, and accept your slow pace. I wrap myself in your peace, rest, and stillness- The opposite of the hurry I feel pressuring, enticing me. I rebuke the hurry. 

I lay aside striving today on the altar. Every time I feel it try to hasten me to works or selfish ambition I lay it down. 

I choose today to fix my eyes on you and your throne, and when I find myself distracted I will bring my gaze back to you in worship and adoration and praise. Not by power, nor by might but by your Spirit I will worship you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! 

I lean in and listen today, like a deer with its ears perked up at full attention. I raise my faith to believe you will speak and I will recognize the voice of my shepherd as your Word says. I open my heart to receive your treasure, the daily manna, you wish to pour into me. Even if it seems like a little thing, I will linger on it, meditate on it day and night and be fully satisfied as it grows in me and it becomes part of me. 

Keep me constantly aware of your presence. Possess me with your purity today, Lord. Possess me with your passion. Possess me with your purposes for my life. I lay on the altar. Set me on fire! Let me burn with wholehearted desire for all of you! I lay aside the distractions, the trivial things and sacrifice my time to follow your leading help me find moments of intimacy with you. I find my seat at your table.

You said, “Seek my face.” My heart says “Oh Lord, your face will I seek.” Psalm 27:8

Kaeley  ♡