September 14

MOR N I NG

orship Me by living close to Me. This was My

original design for man, into whom I breathed My
very breath of Life. This is My desire for you: that you stay near
Me as you walk along your life-path. Each day is an important part of that journey. Although you may feel as if you are
going nowhere in this world, your spiritual journey is another
matter altogether, taking you along steep, treacherous paths
of adventure. That is why walking in the Light of My Presence
is essential to keep you from stumbling. By staying close to
Me, you present yourself as a living sacrifice. Even the most
routine part of your day can be a spiritual act of worship, holy
and pleasing to Me.
G e n esis 2:7; P s a l m 89:15; R om a ns 12:12

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September 14
EVEN I NG

enuine worship requires that you know Me as I

truly am. You cannot comprehend Me perfectly or
completely, but you can strive to know Me accurately as I
am revealed in the Bible. By deepening your understanding
of Me, you are transformed and I am glorifiedin beautiful
worship.
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29 :2 nkjv
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we
shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know
fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13 :12

Also read:
I s a i a h 6:3 n kj v

Before You Turn Out the Light

How does your world reflect My Glory? Consider this,
and worship Me in the beauty of My holiness.

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September 15
MOR N I NG

est in Me, My child. This time devoted to Me is

meant to be peaceful, not stressful. You dont have to
perform in order to receive My Love. I have boundless, unconditional Love for you. How it grieves Me to see My children
working for Love: trying harder and harder, yet never feeling
good enough to be loved.
Be careful that your devotion to Me does not become
another form of works. I want you to come into My Presence
joyfully and confidently. You have nothing to fear, for you wear
My own righteousness. Gaze into My eyes, and you will see
no condemnation, only Love and delight in the one I see. Be
blessed as My Face shines radiantly upon you, giving you Peace.
J oh n 15:13; 2 C or i n t h i a ns 5:21 n kj v;
Z e ph a n i a h 3:17; N u m be r s 6:2526

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September 15
EVEN I NG

r ing your feelings of failur e into the Light

of My Presence, where we can examine them together.
In My brilliant Light, the feelings shrivel and shrink because
they are based on lies. Let the Light of My unfailing Love
shine upon you, dispelling the darkness, lifting you closer
and closer to Me.
How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low
among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They
feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink
from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain
of life; in your light we see light. Psalm 36:7 9
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through
our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Also read:
P s a l m 6:4

Before You Turn Out the Light

For as long as you need, sit here with Me and soak in My Love.

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September 16
MOR N I NG

designed you to live in union with Me. This union

does not negate who you are; it actually makes you more
fully yourself. When you try to live independently of Me, you
experience emptiness and dissatisfaction. You may gain the
whole world and yet lose everything that really counts.
Find fulfillment through living close to Me, yielding to
My purposes for you. Though I may lead you along paths that
feel alien to you, trust that I know what I am doing. If you
follow Me wholeheartedly, you will discover facets of yourself that were previously hidden. I know you intimatelyfar
better than you know yourself. In union with Me, you are
complete. In closeness to Me, you are transformed more and
more into the one I designed you to be.
M a r k 8:36; P s a l m 139:1316;
2 C or i n t h i a ns 3:1718

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September 16
EVEN I NG

refuse to dwell in people who think they are

already good enough without Me. I have called such
hypocrites whitewashed tombs: beautiful on the outside but
putrid on the inside. As you ponder the miraculous truth that
I live in you, let your heart overflow with Joy. I am not a shortterm tenant, indwelling you only as long as your behavior
pleases Me. I have come to staypermanently.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer
live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the
body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2 :20
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you
hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look
beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead
mens bones and everything unclean. Matthew 23 :27

E ph esi a ns

Also read:
2:10 n kj v; J oh n 10:10

n a sb

Before You Turn Out the Light

Yield to My ongoing renewal work within you, and you will
become more of the masterpiece I designed you to be.
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September 17
MOR N I NG

ou w i l l not f i n d My P e ace by engaging in

excessive planning, attempting to control what will
happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced
form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans,
Peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it
always eludes you. Just when you think you have prepared for
all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws
things into confusion.
I did not design the human mind to figure out the future.
That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs,
your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn
from the path of planning to the path of Peace.
1 P e t e r 5:6 7; P rov e r b s 16:9;
P s a l m 37:5 n kj v

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September 17

EVEN I NG

he future is one of those secret things

beyond your domain. Release it to Me, the rightful
Owner. Refuse to worry about the future, and you will find
your resources for today quite sufficient. Remember that I am
part of those resources and nothing is impossible with Me!
The secret things belong to the Lord our God,
but the things revealed belong to us and to our
children forever, that we may follow all the
words of this law. Deuteronomy 29 :29
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Also read:
R om a ns 8:28

a mp

Before You Turn Out the Light

Concentrate on nowand leave every next to Me.

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September 18
MOR N I NG

eek to pl e ase M e above all else. Let that goal be

your focal point as you go through this day. Such a
mind-set will protect you from scattering your energy to the
winds. The free will I bestowed on you comes with awesome
responsibility. Each day presents you with choice after choice.
Many of these decisions you ignore and thus make by default.
Without a focal point to guide you, you can easily lose your
way. Thats why it is so important to stay in communication
with Me, living in thankful awareness of My Presence.
You inhabit a fallen, disjointed world, where things are
constantly unraveling around the edges. Only a vibrant relationship with Me can keep you from coming unraveled too.
M att h e w 6:33; J oh n 8:29;
C olos si a ns 3:2324

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September 18

EVEN I NG

ou are being renewed day by day. My Spirit is

in charge of your renewal, and He is alive within you
directing your growth in grace. Find hope through trusting
that I continually hold you by your right handand I am preparing you for Glory!
We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is
wasting away, our inner self is being renewed
day by day. 2 Corinthians 4 :16 esv
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right
hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward
you will take me into glory. Psalm 73 :2324

Also read:
R om a ns 8:9

Before You Turn Out the Light

Do not be weighed down by the failures and
disappointments of this day. Resolve to begin
tomorrow anew, seeking to walk with Me.

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September 19
MOR N I NG

here is a mighty battle going on for control of

your mind. Heaven and earth intersect in your mind; the
tugs of both spheres influence your thinking. I created you
with the capacity to experience foretastes of heaven. When
you shut out the world and focus on My Presence, you can
enjoy sitting with Me in heavenly realms. This is an incredible
privilege reserved for precious ones who belong to Me and
seek My Face. Your greatest strength is your desire to spend
time communing with Me. As you concentrate on Me, My
Spirit fills your mind with Life and Peace.
The world exerts a downward pull on your thoughts.
Media bombard you with greed, lust, and cynicism. When
you face these things, pray for protection and discernment.
Stay in continual communication with Me whenever you
walk through the wastelands of this world. Refuse to worry,
because this form of worldliness will weigh you down and
block awareness of My Presence. Stay alert, recognizing the
battle being waged against your mind. Look forward to an
eternity of strife-free living, reserved for you in heaven.
E ph esi a ns 2:6; R om a ns 8:6;
1 J oh n 2:15, 17

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September 19

EVEN I NG

lthough you m ay thi n k you are planning your

way, I am actually the One who directs your steps.
However, you can choose the hard way (ignoring Me) or the
right way (seeking My will). Treasure My teaching in your
heart, for it is not your plans but My counsel that will stand.
The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord
directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 nasb
There are many plans in a mans heart, nevertheless the
Lords counselthat will stand. Proverbs 19 :21 nkjv

Je r e m i a h

Also read:
10:23; P s a l m 32:8

Before You Turn Out the Light

Turn back to Me quickly when your myriad plans confuse
you. Im invested in saving you precious time and energy.

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September 20
MOR N I NG

ry to see things more and more from My perspective. Let the Light of My Presence so fully fill your mind
that you view the world through Me. When little things dont
go as you had hoped, look to Me lightheartedly and say, Oh,
well. This simple discipline can protect you from being burdened with an accumulation of petty cares and frustrations.
If you practice this diligently, you will make a life-changing
discovery: You realize that most of the things that worry you
are not important. If you shrug them off immediately and
return your focus to Me, you will walk through your days
with lighter steps and a joyful heart.
When serious problems come your way, you will have
more reserves for dealing with them. You will not have squandered your energy on petty problems. You may even reach the
point where you can agree with the apostle Paul that all your
troubles are light and momentary compared with the eternal
glory being achieved by them.
P s a l m 36:9 n kj v, P rov e r b s 20:24;
2 C or i n t h i a ns 4:1718

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September 20
EVEN I NG

henever you ar e feeling batter ed by lifes

trials, remember the crown of righteousness that is
stored up for you. I have promised to give it to all those who
love Mewho long for My return. When I, the Chief Shepherd,
come back for you, you will receive the crown of Glory that will
never fade away!
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me
on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who
have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4 : 8 nkjv
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
crown of glory that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:4

J a m es

Also read:
1:12; 1 C or i n t h i a ns 9:25

Before You Turn Out the Light

Strive to do more than compete for an imperishable
prizeendure, steadfast till the end.

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