Today’s Reading:
Psalm 119
How I long for my life to bring you glory as I follow each and every one of your holy precepts! Then I’ll never be ashamed, for I take strength from all your commandments. I will give my thanks to you from a heart of love and truth. And every time I learn more of your righteous judgments, I will be faithful to all that your Word reveals— so don’t ever give up on me!
Psalms 119:5-8 TPT
I saw a vision and heard the Spirit of the Living God say,
My grace is pouring out like oil upon this generation. I Am making them to be fruitful trees whose lives and words do prick many with the thorns of truth. The thorny, painful truth will be present in how they conduct their lives. It will be present and surround the fruitfulness of their lives. Their fruit is an inseparable reality from the thorns. Without the thorns of truth there is nothing to protect the fruit, so the fruit will never make it to maturity.
Your displeasure rests with those who are arrogant, who think they know everything; you rebuke the rebellious who refuse your laws. Don’t let them mock and scorn me for obeying you. For even if the princes and my leaders choose to criticize me, I will continue to serve you and walk in your plans for my life. Your commandments are my counselors; your Word is my light and delight!
Psalms 119:21-24 TPT
You will know them by their fruit, and their fruit is not only words but action and visible character traits. My grace, the thick oil of My grace is being poured out on this generation to grow, to thrive in fruitfulness insofar as they are willing to live among the thorny truth and be living breathing vessels of both the thorny truth and the sweet gift of the fruit of faithfulness. This is not an easy assignment. But this is the calling and the way for a believer.
I will walk with you in complete freedom, for I seek to follow your every command. When I stand before kings, I will tell them the truth and will never be ashamed. My passion and delight is in your word, for I love what you say to me! I long for more revelation of your truth, for I love the light of your word as I meditate on your decrees.
Psalms 119:45-48 TPT
The thorns of truth are a lot less likely to injure you if they grow from you and a become part of you. Be okay with becoming one with the thorny truth. The lives that are pricked by contact with the thorny truth and the sweet fruit of faithfulness just might be changed forever. They just may be grafted in to become one like you, to become like Me. Don’t despise the thorns. Don’t hide or diminish the thorns. I designed them to prick hearts and lives — to create an opening for Me.
How to Respond
- Take stock of your life and witness. Can you see the thorns of truth and the fruit of your faithfulness to the Lord?
- Pray, Holy Spirit help me. I want to live boldly, unapologetically as a witness of truth and one who bears the fruit of being faithful to You. Show me where and how I need to be more vocal about the eternal gift of salvation You died to offer. Show me how to be a living proof of Your truth, Your ways and Your Kingdom. Help me to be one who does not back down or shy away from difficult truths but instead wears them proudly so I can bear the fruit of faithfulness to You.
- Declare, You have graced me with more insight than the old sages because I have not failed to walk in the light of your ways. I refused to bend my morals when temptation was before me so that I could become obedient to your Word. I refuse to turn away from difficult truths, for you yourself have taught me to love your words.
Psalms 119:100-102 TPT - Decree, The Lord is faithful and true and trustworthy. I want to be like Him. I commit to speak the truth of the Lord boldly and unapologetically. I will not hide difficult truths. I will share them and wear them as the Lord instructs me, so hearts may be pricked and openings can be made for the King of Glory to come into the lives touched by these thorny truths. Many will be touched, pricked and changed by the thorny truths of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus. May their lives become fruitful and abundant in their faithfulness to Him.
For more encouragement from The Glory & New Wine, check out the post from this day in years past:
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