Pick Your Posture (An example of how I receive journaling)

Mark Virkler's picture

I have been asked to “Share my personal stories of how I appropriate and live the truths of Spirit-anointed living.” So here is one such example. I trust it is helpful and meaningful to you. 


Everything I do all day, every day, is done from an inner posture. It’s either, “Mark, get this done” or “Jesus, guide me in this.” I’m tempted to say, “One approach is no harder than the other approach” because abiding in Christ is simply a different learned approach than that of Western rationalism. However, immediately Jesus offers me a corrective, flowing thought that lights upon my mind. The thought is, “That premise is not true.” So in this blog I am going to share with you how God drew me into journaling about this topic and how my journaling became this blog.

The truth is...

The truth is that the inner posture that says “Mark, get this done” is much harder because then I must strive and strain to do the activity. The inner posture that says, “Jesus, guide me” simply necessitates me being aware that Jesus is present, tuning to flow, and doing whatever flow is offering. The result is that God’s ever-present flowing thoughts, pictures, ideas, and energizing kicks in, and I am operating in the anointing and outperforming myself with ease. I am now releasing life. I recall Jesus’ words, "My rhemas are spirit and life. The flesh accomplishes nothing" (Jn. 6:63; 15:5).

So this blog is being written from His flow.

The title just appeared as a spontaneous thought. My first reaction was to set the job of writing this blog aside and get to it later. However, another thought appeared, “Do it now. God is giving this to you now. Operate in the present-tense anointing. Do what is flowing within you in the moment."

Then I thought, "Well, I could change and improve the title," and a flowing thought came, “No, this title, 'Pick Your Posture,' is from the Spirit. Use this title, not something you ham up." So, I repented and said fine and titled this blog, “Pick Your Posture.”

So now, I am tuned to flow and writing from flow (Jn. 7:37-39), and it is easy and effortless because there is always a River flowing within us. It comes from the Throne of God (Rev. 22:1,2). Where will it take me? I need to pause, to see what is coming next. I smile, relax and tune to flow.

Flow kicks in again and Jesus speaks...

Mark, each person faces this challenge of "picking their posture" for each and every moment of each and every day. There is no such thing as not having a posture. Everyone has one, and they have it for every moment of every day. It is either one of life or of death, of self-striving or self-relaxed and in My presence, tuned to My initiative and flowing with My energy, creativity, wisdom, and power.

Yes, of course, there is the third option of not receiving My love for the truth (2 Thess. 2:10), and fixing one's focus on darkness rather than light, and being defiled by the spirit of darkness and delusion. However, no believer should ever choose that.

However, you are right, some do. Actually, many do. My children choose to trust self and governments and many other vices rather than choosing to trust Me. That truly is sad. That truly is the worst posture one could pick. It is heart-rending that so many choose it, as it causes so much pain, death, and limitation in their lives. This is not My choice for them. Recall Abraham and his choice to have Ishmael.

Mark, I would have you ALWAYS choose to receive My LOVE OF THE TRUTH, so that My power and My wisdom may flow through you ALWAYS, each and every moment of each and every day. This is My choice for you and all people. This allows My anointing to be released in and through one's life each and every day. This is the lifestyle I demonstrated as I walked on the earth (Jn. 14:10; 16:13). This is LIFE, NOT DEATH! THIS IS LIFE AND NOT DEATH. THIS IS LIFE AND NOT DEATH!

Behold, I have spoken. Behold, it is to be done.

Yes, Lord.

I pause … until flow kicks in again

So, Mark, life is simple: pick the posture of abiding in Christ (Jn. 15), rather than abiding in self. By doing this, you become anointed. Yes, it is important that you can define this lifestyle, and yes, you have correctly defined it as: beholding Me at your right hand (Acts 2:25; Ps. 16:8; Matt. 28:20 NKJV), asking for My input, tuning to FLOW and receiving and acting upon what is constantly, effortlessly flowing within you. It’s really quite simple, wouldn’t you say?

Yes, Lord, really quite simple. Pick the posture of abiding, and the anointing flows continuously. How could it be any easier?

Right, Mark, how could it be any easier? It couldn’t. However, religion has managed to complicate this greatly. So avoid religiosity at all costs. Live instead in My flow.

Yes, Lord. Got it. I choose to posture myself beholding You, asking for Your initiative, tuning to flow, and releasing whatever Your flow is providing. I choose simplicity. I choose YOU! THANK YOU, LORD!

You are welcome, My son, you are welcome.

Steps I take after the revelation above is received and written down

I go back to proof the journaling, run it through spell checker, add some Scripture references, and post it so others can be encouraged to “Pick Their Posture.”

I just proofread it. I healed some run-on sentences. Added a bit of clarity, where my heart was aware of more than what I had said on paper, with the goal of making things clearer to you, the reader. I went through it a second, third, and fourth time, continuing this clean-up process. I want to remove any excess words and make sure the key full idea is communicated in as concise and powerful way as possible. 

I review it the following day, to see if more is to be added or cleaned up or perfected. I stay tuned to the flow during the process. Finally, it goes to my daughter Charity, as an editor, to clean it up some more. If it has edgy theology in it, it makes a stop with Patti my wife, and a couple other pastors, to ensure I am staying on track.

Final note: I am learning to always close a blog, or any form of teaching, with a two-way journaling question so my readers are coached into hearing God's voice about the topic. And more and more I am adding the sentence that has the four keys in it, so that this becomes normative teaching/training in the body of Christ.  

I would love to have you steal and insert the sentences below into your communications and writings which clearly states a summary of the four keys. Together we are promoting revival!

Two-Way Journaling Application

  • I commune with God by: 1) becoming still, 2) beholding Jesus, 3) tuning to His River of flowing thoughts, pictures, and feelings, and 4) recording the flow. Then I test it using Scripture and the hearts of my spiritual advisors. See this link.
  • Lord, what do You want to speak to me concerning the posture I live in daily, and the ideas presented in this blog?


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