A Journal Submitted by: Jaque Shank
Lord, I see you alive in me no matter what is happening in my life and no matter how I’m feeling at any given moment; how you are seen through me, however, IS MY CHOICE.
If I choose continual surrender to the recognition of Your presence with me and in me, I will always know you as Life being poured out through me to others. Lord, I love the life that I have, and the circumstances you’ve given me in which to live it. I love to honor you and I am honored with your continual presence. Jesus, I absolutely adore you!
As time goes by I am more aware of the fact that your life in me looks just like me. I have this treasure in an earthen vessel…the vessel you chose to give me.
The only problem I’ve ever had stemmed from not trusting in your TOTAL goodness. Yet you’ve proven through countless answered prayers how good you really are…and there’s still more to come!
Under much tyranny the mind of the flesh has tried to hold me back. Still I see how you used Truth to press me toward the mark of the high calling. Life is full of paradox; your love works through me “just as I am” and yet continues to transform my personality into the image of Christ. From what you’ve personally taught Holy Spirit, I finally accept myself just as I am. That’s a real big thing! I no longer introspect to find fault with myself, but to acknowledge my sin and your once-for-all forgiveness. This takes the emphasis off me and puts it onto your finished work, enabling me to receive and give more grace to others. I am finally persuaded that you are able to complete what you started in me!
Jaque, I adore you. Keep looking My way.
“Respond to God’s Way”
Jaque, My acceptance (of you) is what makes you righteous. Your only real choice is to respond (or not) to what I DID. I wanted to accept you, so I sent Christ to make a Way. Your response to what I did is your faith; it is the Way you return to My love.
If you would love others AS THEY ARE you need to accept My love for you AS YOU ARE. Any other Way is not unconditional. I work in you the will (want) to do what I want. Genuineness stems from wanting what I want. If it’s not in your heart to do it, then it’s not of Me, for I give you the desires (wants) of your heart. When you choose to respond to what I’ve worked in, you will genuinely want to work it out. This is the way and it’s what I want; a genuine Christian busy working out her own salvation!
Father, again I accept your acceptance. I understand that each of us has our own history to deal with, but also, that you chose to glorify yourself through frail human vessels. When we are WEAK, then you are STRONG.
Jaque, do you understand the implications here? I want you to live the life YOU WANT TO LIVE. I am not a God who wants to send you off into some missionary’s jungle unless you “want” to go there! But if I knew you were suited for it, then I would place the “I want to go” inside your heart! How do you think I got you to Kansas? I developed the will to do and to be in your heart before you made the request to re-marry and be part of another man’s life.
Lord, your Way never fails.
Jaque, I want you to live the life you have; you are suited for the setting in which you live. You see, I am perfectly compatible with humanity; humanity is capable of displaying the divine nature. I demonstrated this through Christ, and then I sent the Holy Spirit to carry on the demonstration through you and others who belong to Christ. Keep coming Jaque; keep noticing the new desires growing in your heart, like your current desire to understand how the legacy of Jesus “healing them ALL” is still the desire of the One who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
So be it Lord. Place your wants in my heart until I can’t stand NOT to have them. When the “want” in me starts pressing through doors I would otherwise not have thought about prying (praying) opened, we are going to have more of Your kingdom brought to the earth.
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