Hold On! Hold Fast! Reach Out!
How much light is needed to push back the darkness on earth?
Prophetic Word — “Hold on! Hold fast! Reach out!”
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Message
The words “Help me!” are the deepest cry of every human heart. It perfectly describes the anguish of the soul, that agony in need to hear God lovingly respond with redemptive help.
He answers as the very person and the very place of help through His son Jesus Christ, providing help for the helpless, a Father to the fatherless, and Hope for the hopeless.
One of the most amazing things about of God and so very precious to the humble needs of we humans is that he is actually the very BEING, the very exact place, where we find help.
Nothing and no one else is so truly and so really, THE place and person from who help comes like he is.
Our need for help is more accurately termed “rescue” when it’s expressed in the fullest sense, and only Jesus himself can provide it!
He rescues us from our daily “sneaky and self gratifying” sins and he rescues us from our falling and our faults, and he rescues us from our helplessness and hopelessness!
Jesus Alone Is the Place of Rescue
He is the ultimate single person of help and we can find no one else to fill that break in the bridge of life! There is no one else, and when we come to this place we realize we need no other fixer!
Now, this doesn’t mean that we don’t need one another as brothers and sisters in Christ and as friends. But unless those brothers and sisters and friends are walking in the light and brokenness of The LORD, they really aren’t much help anyway.
Some people resist and prolong the inevitable, and will resist you when you are going through times of struggle and difficulty. There is a certain “ugly disdain” in an individual who does not want to admit that they are infallible.
These individuals still feel that they can control the environment around them through their education, their income, and their attitude.
Often, these kinds of individuals can create painful darkness in the lives of others, because instead of extending mercy and compassion, they have a lot of advice that comes out of simple textbook reading, rather than out of any real experience in dealing with their own darkness and personal places of being stuck in dysfunction.
Sad as it may seem, many people applaud their own dysfunctions, claiming that they are actually “just fine”, and they will pretty much verbally “whack anyone else in the head” that dares to challenge them!
These are the friends that job had, and these are not real friends. They will never understand the life of the disciple of dear Jesus, being refined in the fire, in order to come out of that fire more radiant, and expressing the hope and light of Christ without a lot of pompous preaching or fanfare.
The way to the fulfillment of all of life‘s highest peaks and deepest longings is in knowing the depths of the love of the Rescuer, LORD Jesus Christ Himself.
It’s not a quick process by the way!
How much light does a person need when pressed under by evil pressures, nightmarish reoccurring losses and disjointed, painful relationships?
Only a very tiny pinhole of light, if it is the Light that comes from God.
One Pinhole of Godly Light Is Stronger Than a Universe of Darkness
It is enough for a surrendered and determined believer to cling to and depend on when all else has failed.
Psalm 89:15 says,
“Blessed are those who have learned to give praise and honor to you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.”
When we focus upon the Light of God’s enduring and endearing Presence, all darkness will eventually be swallowed up into the Light of His Fountain of light. His Light is victorious over the darkness. ALL OF IT.
Psalm 36:9 says,
“For with you is the fountain of life; In your light we see light.”
Jesus Alone Is the Place of Rescue
Our strength is not enough. Accept that and know that God’s Light comes to dispel darkness.
His strength and Righteous arm smashes dark deeds, enemies, and deceivers and He will bring out into the light the things men think that they have hidden or have justified away.
Psalm 90:8 says,
You spread out our sins before you — our secret sins — and see them all.
What is happening when you feel blind and lost in a darkened season?
Just as a caterpillar in a cocoon must experience a time of confinement and seeming darkness, there comes a time when it is lead out of darkness into light to stretch its newly found wings of liberty and gracefulness to soar and express Resurrection power, to those who gaze upon its beauty.
Few will fully understand the pain of this difficult process, unless they too pass through it.
Isaiah 42:16 says,
“Along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”
So! Who are the genuine workers of good and honest deeds?
Now, there are those who do acts of benevolence and kindness whose aim is to only gain personal gratification and a sense of power when they “stoop to help others” in times of distress and sorrow.
Often times, folks with this fleshly and condescending behavior, (although claiming to have some spiritual godliness) will test those whom they share with. This can be either in monetary gifts, acts of service, spiritual gifts, or in counsel.
In basic terms, it’s set up.
You better perform up to the standard they expect! Because it’s their reputation on the line if you fail!
( Imagine if Jesus held us all accountable to the acts of His goodness towards us! )
This is NOT a Worker of A Righteous or Good and Honest deed. This is a form of selfish ambition, entrapment and control.
A righteous deed or act of goodness is done with the intent of imitating the nature of God’s Mercy and kindness.
It does not expect performance or groveling in return. It never holds others over the fire with a critical eye, expecting perfection.
Often we have failed and disrespected His Grace. Yet He continues in love, and Redemptive acts towards us. Because He has, no insecurities whatsoever.
To be righteous or “doing what is right in the eyes of God” means to be:
Virtuous – moral – good – justice loving
Honorable – honest – respectable – decent
I have personally experienced in the past and even as recently as the past few weeks, overwhelming acts of kindness and patience from those whom I know, God must call His Workers of honorable and kind deeds.
The common thread I see among all of these beloved givers of grace and care is that they have all experienced a time of great loss, depravation, near death, or sorrow.
A Ray of Hope
A beam of light that draws you out of the darkness, that attempts to tow you under in despair or fear.
I just lost one of my seven brothers. Sudden liver failure and organ failure. He was 63. He was brilliant, funny and kind.
I lost another friend a week later. One moment a successful surgery, moments later, a clot was formed and a stroke took place. Gone in a moment. She was 62. A giver, an artist and lover of God.
I had a very dear family member that I love, turn on me suddenly and share privileged information with others who are not considered safe or wise people. Trust was shattered!
All three of these events were and are painful! All three events were and are out of my ability to control!
And friends, grief and loss and betrayal are very, very real, and they are very painful events in our lives.
Yet, god send us others into our spiral of pain and loss, who “get it”, because not only have they been through similar events, they learned that hard won growth can come out of pain and loss, or, you can choose to grow isolated, insulated, and bitter.
Jeremiah 9:24 says,
“But let him who boasts- boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I AM The LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares The LORD.”
When torment and lying spirits deceive others and they foolishly accuse you; know that there are others whom God will place in your life that will bring sober and Godly counsel, as well as loving kindness and help.
Proverbs 27:9 says,
“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend, springs from his earnest counsel.”
Do not stop in your kindness and in your care for others!
The testing in this hour of the hearts of men and women will only grow more intense as The LORD examines the intentions of the hearts of those who call Him LORD.
The hoarding of comfort and help can’t ever be allowed in the life of a follower of Jesus. Your comfort, is not number one!
Sometimes, we put aside our own needs and comforts and security, and forge through the darkness to bring hope and relief to those being battered by a relentless storm!
We speak peace to them IN the storm. Jesus did it! So He gives us the courage and strength to do the same!
If you have personally caused tragedy, destruction or shame to fall upon any of your Family in Christ, and have yet to openly apologize and make the situation you were a part of “right”, know that the risk of a deep darkness of the soul is reserved for those who choose to walk in self-deception and who cloak their denial in passivity.
Quickly while you still have time, humble yourself in the sight and the light of The LORD and He will lift you out of your darkness.
Be humble enough to apologize specifically, for the harm you have done to someone.
Own it, apologize, and ask for their forgiveness.
Then, Light will come again into your soul, and so will a flooding peace that cleanses you from shame and the claw of bitterness that demons use to torment and immobilize you with.
Philippians 2:3 says,
“Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.”
Dear believer! There is the open offer of an abundance of joy for workers of righteous and humble, honorable deeds!
Psalm 45:7 says,
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Psalm 33:1 says,
“Sing joyfully to The LORD, you righteous it is fitting for the upright to praise him.”
Now, I’m going to share a Prophetic Word from The LORD that does address some of this and it’s in an active and vocal way that The LORD would like to speak to us, to put a type of seal on this message.
“Hold On! Hold Fast! Reach Out!”
A Prophetic Word
“I the Redeemer of those who cry out to Me day and night, compel you to hold on to My hand of Faithfulness and Light.
Keep your eyes on the Light I provide for you in the darkness.
Hold fast to it and I will stir the hearts of the Righteous and faithful in me, to reach out a hand of compassion and they will obey Me with acts of blessing, restoration, and supply.
They will do this willingly, for they have tasted of sorrow and know the secret of My abundant Joy!
They have gone out weeping themselves, sowing seeds when they didn’t understand, all now growing up in compassion, only to produce a harvest, abundant in Joy.
Psalm 126:6 says, “Those who weep as they walk and plant with sighs will return singing with joy, when they bring home the harvest.”
I The LORD have tasted sorrow, loss, torment, and death.
Yet in one Redemptive act, mankind was brought the opportunity for the fullness of Joy and the open door from darkness into light, when they too, choose to call upon My Salvation, cleansing, and light.
Quickly. Cleanse your hearts of any act of unkindness, false humility, and the use of a heavy hand over your brothers or sisters, or your children.
The pinhole of light… My Light, Is drawing you into a New Day.
For Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and for those in right standing with God.” (Psalm 112:4)
Dear Believer! I encourage you to chew on this message.
Let us all bow before The LORD. Get low and sit at the feet of Jesus.
Ask Him to wash you clean of fear and weariness and feeling displaced.
This is a different type of warfare that we are experiencing right now!
It’s not one that a lot of us have experienced on this level of pressure.
Ask The LORD to show you that single pinhole of light.
From that light, God shows us He is there with us.
Be strong in The LORD and in the POWER of His Might.
In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ©
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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.
Oh Sandi…
I KNOW …. That you know the perseverance under pressure that it takes to stand upright in every way when everything is being hammered by the accuser of the brethren. Unfathomable upsets, choices and changes.
I’m realistically…. LITERALLY walking things out one moment at a time …. Limping sometimes! But guess what? I’m not going to bow my knee to anyone or anything except the only ONE who truly knows me, loves me and whom I live for. Jesus… the Master and King .
OMG! Mary, there are just no words to say how deeply your message penetrated my heart and confirmed so much of what the Lord has been comforting me with. Dire circumstanes, exposure of betrayals, family, all of it I believe many are seeing and experiencing in this time of turmoil that is revealing heart issues like none other. I appreciate and love your wisdom and your transparent humility so very much. May God multiply back to you all you have given sacrificially with great love. What a joy to know you and call you friend. Love and peace, Sandi
Praise God, I’m crying tears of joy!