Have you ever had people in your life who are fantastic story tellers? They can be so entertaining! However the stories are about themselves and too far fetched to be believed. So, you don’t always know how to respond.

This journal entry was written over 30 years ago and it was one of my first relationships with such a person. Since my journal is like a diary to God, it’s very personal. I was first learning to hear from God and I often second guessed myself. It’s clearly been a Work In Process! My hope, as always , is that the Lord can use it to help you draw closer to Him!

From the journal .  .  .  . December 1987

  … and Nevaeh is mad.  I wonder if she is worth bothering with. I mean, will she ever soften toward You?  As I read Jeremiah, I see that many lie about their relationship with You. Lord, in the O.T. You were against people; those who were harlots, spiritually speaking.  Yet, from the New Testament we know that our battle is not with flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12).   It’s my opinion that Nevaeh is really being used by the enemy. There’s so little I trust about her because she lies so much.  I imagine her doing bad things.  I confess that imagining is wrong in this case.  Please forgive me, Lord, and remind me of my sin if I go off on it again.  Lord, I’m confused about being wise or wary of her.

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves.

And I Believe God Said:

Make Me your focal point.  If she lies, why should that matter so much?

It matters because I don’t know how to respond.

Always respond in love.   Don’t let her words or stories affect your love or actions toward others.  Look to Me.  She is an enemy to you and I’ve said to love your enemies.  If you see an opportunity to do good to her, don’t hesitate. 

Matthew 5:44

Lord should I spend time with her?  I’m reminded of not throwing pearls to swine and wiping the dust off your feet. * 

*Matt. 7:6, Matt 10:14

A prophet isn’t recognized in his own home, so if he is to function as a prophet, he needs to go where….* He is received. 

*See End note

Lord, Jeremiah wasn’t received. . .

You are to speak the words I say. Leave the receiving or rejecting to Me.  Neveah isn’t receiving you personally.  Don’t be deceived.  It’s not Me in you she’s rejecting, but you.

Lord, is that You?  Oh I’m not sure*.  I don’t want to take my words as Your truth.

*See end note

Love her but don’t be deceived that she will receive Me from you.

Oh God, I’m usually more sure about the words I receive from You. Can I please have confirmation?  I believe You are saying I don’t have a ministry to her. That tells me I needn’t waste my time. On earth You made Yourself available, but people usually had to come to You.  You didn’t knock on doors or force Yourself on those who didn’t want to hear.  I guess I’m afraid of shirking a task because it’s unpleasant.

So, looking for confirmation I opened my Bible.

Lord, I opened to John 13:19-20 

^{John 13: 19} “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

My processing:

Okay, I’ll take it.   You are telling me beforehand so I will know that it’s You.  “He who receives who I send, receives Me. And the one who receives Me will receive who I send.” 

Okay Lord.  Is it that You aren’t sending me?  I’m thinking it’s one of two things.

1. She isn’t receiving You because I’m not who You are sending.

Or

2. She’s not receiving me because she’s not receiving You.

If what I think You said is correct, then it’s the first.  Maybe I don’t need to know, but in any case, I am to back off. Okay. 

Lord, do I often go where I’m not sent?

Yes.  When I send you, there is always success.  Maybe not that you can see but it’s never in vain.  Often, you go where you think.  Remember My burden is light.

Matthew 11:30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Thanks, Lord.  I so desperately need You.  I keep getting it wrong, but I’ll keep trying.  

End Note to Readers:

*As I was learning to recognize when the Lord was speaking, I would switch from cursive writing to standard printing.  The switch made it easier for me to look back to what I believe the Lord said. In the original journal I had printed “A PROPHET ISN’T RECOGNIZED IN HIS OWN HOME, SO IF HE IS TO FUNCTION AS A PROPHET, HE NEEDS TO GO WHERE ….  Opps.  Is this You? ”  And I believe the Lord continued “HE IS RECEIVED. ” It’s been a learning process. There’s more about this in About the Journal on the Blog Site.