Dale Cresap's blog

Do you map out responses, planning in advance for every situation you may encounter? Don’t let this become a burden to you. You can’t imagine everything that could happen, and most of the things you can imagine will not happen. Don’t miss out on the fullness and richness of life now by engaging in this form of worry. If you do not believe that tomorrow will take care of the things of tomorrow then at least believe that I am in control of tomorrow and today. I call you to a walk of continuous trust in me. If you do this you will have a peace unknown to those who fend for themselves by controlling all they can. If the evil of today is sufficient for it, then so are the mercy, grace, and blessing, knowing that there will be an equally abundant supply tomorrow. 

Have you ever heard someone exhorted to ‘rise above it’ when they are faced with a petty insult? This means to take a noble minded view and let it go without responding in kind to the provocation. This is good advice and for my people it is no mere figure of speech. For I exhort you to seek those things above where I sit on the right hand of the Father. I have provided a real refuge for you in which you can weather the trials and tribulations of this world. I provide a way of escape that you may endure, sustaining you in the secret place of my presence where your enemies cannot follow. Here you can rise above much more than petty insults. 

Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come and return to me, for in returning and rest will be your strength. There is no need for you to go to find me, for my Kingdom is within you. I call you to abide in me, and you do this by turning your attention to my presence in you. In this way you can come to me without going anywhere. There is a spiritual reality and you can live in it constantly, even if those around you are unaware of it. I have gone to prepare a place for you, but I already have a home in your heart. I would not invite you to abide in me if it were not possible. This is a place of intimate communion.

Do you face ponderous and complex questions and desire that I should give you detailed answers? Yet I do not always elaborate. Yet even so I give you the insight and guidance you need. I have promised to be with you always. Are you aware of my presence?  Conduct your daily activities so that they are informed by my presence. If you are aware that I am with you that knowledge alone will provide most of what you need. My disciples were not people of status in their society but when they proclaimed my word with power it was noted that they had been with me. You are known by the company you keep and this is all the more true in my case. It rubs off.

Do you observe that those who are bound in sin, such as serious addictions, seem to be diminished in their humanity, unable to experience the full range of human expression and involvement? Sin is a process of death. It can work suddenly and completely, but at the very least it will work progressively and insidiously. Conversely, have you noticed that the godly are full of life, and live every aspect with full expression? This is the abundant life I give, for I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly. Even if death is working in you it is not too late, if you turn to me in repentance to be redeemed and healed and transformed from death to life.

Do you care what everyone thinks about you? Yet you know that you can’t please everyone, so you have to value some people’s opinions more than others. Do you then care more about the opinion of the people who like you than of strangers or those indifferent to you? This is a normal way to manage the issue of meeting expectations. Do you know that I like you more than anyone else does? From this you would logically conclude that it is more important to please me than anyone else, and you would be right. If you can only please one then please the one most important. Please God rather than men. 

Those who fall into sin are to be restored in a spirit of meekness and gentleness, being careful that you do not get drawn in yourself. Do you have a ‘grid’ for restoration? I do not willingly crush my children even in the process of correcting them. How much less should you who have been forgiven much yourself? Are you prepared to work with those who repent that they may be healed? Are you prepared to accept them as fellow believers again? It is one thing to accept them as fellow believers who come to receive ministry from you or along side you, but I have ministry for them to perform as part of my plan. Are you prepared to receive ministry from them? 

What attributes do you ascribe to spoiled children? Do you think of them as selfish, undisciplined and self-indulgent? Do you assume that this comes from over-indulgent parents? Adults can have the same qualities to an even greater degree, although they are more subtle in expressing them. Do you refer to adults with the same qualities as being spoiled? Who is to blame for their condition? These characteristics are the opposite of the godliness described in my word. Spoiled fruit cannot be restored to freshness, but marvel at my redemptive power, that even people who are spoiled can come to me and be restored to godly character.

Do you think that you are highly aware of your situation, so that you know about any needs that you have? Could you have any needs that you are unaware of? Most people who come to me do so because of a need they are aware of, such as illness or personal or family crisis, and I end up meeting a need they were unaware of. Your need for reconciliation and redemption is greater than any other need you have. This is true of everyone, but those who are in darkness do not realize it. Let your light so shine before men that they may understand their real needs and come to me to have them fulfilled. 

All your life you have known people by what they look like, what they say, and what they do. These are observations that anyone can make. Yet you are a spiritual being, as is everyone you meet. In my word I tell you to no longer know anyone after the flesh. This requires you to disregard the visible physical reality of other people that you may know them according to the spirit. This takes discernment and a deliberate intent to look beyond the superficial, but if you ask of me I will give you this understanding. I do not say it is easy to unlearn habits and be retrained to see this way, but this perspective is the only one that allows you to see the true humanity and spirituality of those you meet.