TOS161 Simple Lessons of Following the Way – Prophetic Advice

Truth of the Spirit shares prophetic advice in “Simple Lessons Following the Way”.  Patti Brunner shares advice from the Lord during prayer conversations as she struggled with various issues.  The Lord’s wisdom and understanding shines through darkness to give hope and understanding.  The conversations shared are considered personal revelation yet very helpful for daily life. For audio and video links and for blog please continue reading below.

Several years ago my family was hit with a large curve ball when my husband was diagnosed with heart failure needing a heart transplant. We immediately put all that where it belonged—under God’s authority.  On August 15 that year, I prayed, “Lord, what do you want from us?  How can we give the most glory through this?  From a miraculous healing?  We accept it.  Through a change in life style?  We accept change.  Through sorrow?  We accept that, according to your will.   Raise us O Lord, to be overcomers!  In the name of Jesus, I proclaim that all who are sealed by Baptism and Confirmation are overcomers!  In Christ’ name I pray! 

The Lord responded with this advice.  “My Child, you are indeed an “overcomer” but let me explain to you what that means.  An “Overcomer” is one who through the grace of Almighty God overcomes the effect of sin of the world in their particular lives.  It is not a washing away of temptation or the struggle but a cleansing of the oppressiveness that signifies that “sin” has the upper hand.  When you continue to look upon the face of God when you are faced by adversity you shall recognize my love for you and you shall have peace.”

Welcome to Truth of the Spirit.  I’m your host,Patti Brunner.  Since Jesus came to earth as true God true man, He knows all our needs and most willing to share with us the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying gifts of wisdom and understanding.  The Lord calls us to have a personal relationship with him.   Prayer can really be a conversation with Him.  Truth of the Spirit shares some of those conversations I have recorded in my prayer journals with you today during this episode, “Simple Lessons of Following the Way – Prophetic Advice”.

What about my husband’s condition?  His life totally changed that August.  The Lord told me, “He is in the palm of my hand.  Fear not.  As he is anointed my peace will free him of all bondage.”  Following the Lord’s advice, my husband received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick three days later.  Following other advice the Lord gave us, my husband received much healing and the heart transplant was not necessary.

The Lord has been prompting me for some time now to look back at some my journals where He gave me prophetic advice to be a better follower of Jesus.  I always ask his help when I am struggling or when those around me are struggling.  Since we started the Truth of the Spirit podcast I have drawn upon His words to me for most of the episodes.   Then I use scripture, the Catechism and other Church resources as affirmation for the teachings they contain.   These teachings have not always been simple but I hope they have been helpful.    The Simple Lessons of Following the Way is encouraging advice of one friend to another.   Since one of the friends just happens to be Jesus they are considered personal revelation.

November 6, I wrote that the Lord gave this advice, “Standing in hope is standing with Christ, the Savior of the World.  The gift given is not always taken and received  yet the ‘Hope’ of Christ is that all will embrace the gift of salvation, the gift of love, and freedom from sin and the death that thus results.”  The Lord says, “Continue to pour out your needs to Me.  I hear and respond.  Continue to trust the Word of the Lord.  Continue to lift the Name of Jesus above every difficulty that can be ‘named’ for your God your Lord and Savior has already conquered every battle, every problem, every war, every outstanding vindication the enemy “dishes out”.  Remember this and my Peace shall remain within you.  Go in Peace, “to love and serve the world” and thus to serve the One who gives the Peace that surpasses all understanding!”

On December 29th I told the Lord that I longed to be relaxed in His presence but busyness pursued me as those things put off must be done before year end!  I was trying to balance time with family and friends with responsibilities.  I dedicated my choices to Him and asked that I not miss the Christmas grace.  The Lord reminded me, “The healing of my children is a gift that must be “opened” to be fully received.  As it “sits on the shelf” it does not ‘tarnish’ nor ‘gather dust’ but it can grow or shrink.  Continue to intercede for these children that they will open their hearts to Me and then easily open my gifts to them.”

On April 19th the Lord gave this advice:  “Whenever the path to life is covered with briars from years of neglect, the thorns or ‘stickers’ brush the outer layer and prevent stepping past the past.  Trimming them allows comfort.  They are not gone but they do not overwhelm the path and when “managed” they can even be a source of beauty.  Fear not those things of the past.  They are no longer in control—unless you allow them to be.  Moving on toward something better and brighter  burns away the dross that hides the dangerous or the damaging briars.  If the briars are embraced instead of being trimmed, the bitterness becomes a norm.  The scarring builds up a sort of callus where the ‘stickers’ cannot penetrate.  But this keeps all sensitivity at bay and the heart is blocked from the fullness of God’s love.  Step back and receive “holy clippers”.  My grace is sufficient to bring beauty from that which was meant, by the evil one, to destroy.  I always provide.  I always bring light to the darkness.  It is who I AM.  

On May 8th the Lord gave me this advice about gifts of the Holy Spirit:   “As these days go forward you will see that the gifts I have given you are much more valuable than silver or gold.  I have placed in your heart the ability to speak my word and to turn the hearts of the lost to return to my arms where they shall know Me and accept my love for them instead of rejecting me with hearts made of stone.  Whenever you see the lost, reach out in song, in compassion with hope, with love.  The eternal life is the greatest of gifts—like the beggar Lazarus—but in eternal bliss, following the angels in praise for their God and being set free from all barriers to experiencing first-hand the love of the Lord.”

“Whenever you call upon My Name I shall be with you in Power and in Love.  Continue to be available in various settings.  Do not fear rejection.  For a season you shall be protected from the raging sea that seeks always to quench the fire of my Spirit.  The kingdom is come.  The kingdom is upon you!

On May 25th I asked to Lord tocleanse us of any attachments that seek to keep us from His plan for our lives and to rid us of distraction and interference.  My husband had been attacked by fear and anxiety during the night.  I asked the Lord to build His faith in us and that our response to His grace give Him glory not disappointment.   The Lord then shared this advice:  “Whenever you think of giving Me honor, it is done.  Fear not.  Whenever you sense the Spirit upon you—I Am there with you.  I am always with you, yet when you turn your face from Me you cannot comprehend what that means—that is, you do not walk in my fullness.   Be included, inclusive in your love for Me.  Share it with all not just those who respond to you.  Not casting pearls among the swine [Matthew 7:6] does not mean to not evangelize.  It only means to be careful how resources are used.  What is the correct fodder for animals?  Something that will nourish them!  Would you give a starving man a mink coat?  Of course not!  Be all to all.  Recognize the need and thus they will benefit by your generosity.”

On August 14th the Lord shared:  The devil does not move without the freedom of will I give to my children.  His power is through deceit and imitation.  He gains power when it is given to him freely by sin, by oath, by abandoning the true God.  Fear not his power.  It is corrupted when exposed to truth and disintegrates as Light shines upon it.  The enemy, the foe, the actor of wickedness, certainly seeks to destroy those who do my work, my will.  “Under the radar” are those who stay in the shadow of the Most High God.

On August 17 I was praying for those struggling with the will to live and for those struggling to take care of their families.  I also had a concern after praying with a young person who had worldly petitions. The Lord responded, “Whenever you seek the Lord I Am found.  Continue to raise the needs of the people before Me.  I listen.  When the good of the people is available I give generously.  Prayer sets apart needs which “teeter” on the edge—that is, the results of free will cause a certain course yet prayer can cause the stream to split and allow a different outcome.  Never hesitate to ask.  I will judge the righteousness of the desire.  You hesitated when the young one prayed for an area different than your own desire.  Pray to find the grace in affirming the needs and desires of others.  You are not judge.  I will not give that which has darkness attached.  Even in the granting of prayers that lack wisdom these can be benefit.

I now realize that the Lord was advising that it is better to pray for something imperfect than to not pray at all.  It is better to encourage prayer than to judge the prayer.  Praise the Lord!

On October 25th the Lord gave me this advice about using a Word of Knowledge as a path for prayer:  “When your heart is troubled your whole self is affected.  Seek and you shall find.  Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.  Whenever you feel the surge of my power—first take it as a sign of my presence.  Do not fear the lack of effectiveness of your prayer.  If the person does agree with your ‘diagnosis’ you can continue to minister in healing the particulars.  However, a ‘block’ is usually a ‘block’.   In these cases you may temporarily sidestep the involvement of the thoughts of the person and stand in love.  Love ‘finds the way’.  Love is the knock on the door.  Love seeks the healing of others . Love melts all barriers.

After praying on November 12th for help to do what I had said I would do, to do what God has called me to do, and to do what I need to do, the Lord gave this advice:  “Whichever you choose through freewill know that I am with you to the ends of the earth.  As you fulfill the destiny of your baptism you shall find peace everlasting.  As you ask yourself “How does this effect eternity?” you will find your guidance.”

On November 18th  I prayed for my children who were struggling.  I asked the Lord to not let me be overwhelmed by watching the waves of the storm.  The Lord provides calm waters at just the right time.  There is a benefit of strong wind and stormy seas—it is part of life, God’s creation and has a purpose.  I asked that my family get the full benefit of these difficult times.  The Lord answered with this advice:  “As you sift through the events of the day know this:  My love for you is unchanging.  It is complete; it is enough for you.  Fear not the ebbs and flows of grace.  What you need is provided when you need it.  Sometimes the world does seem to overwhelm my children.  Their own choices are a major part of this but, also remember, that there is no perfection in this world.  The decay that is a natural part of it witnesses this truth—however, I am perfection.  I am life.  I am the hope of many who seek my face.  When the eternal moment takes ‘time’ you shall see the heritage fulfilled.  Until then, remember to love, pray, have joy, and share.  These provide an abundant life—even in the midst of ‘imperfection’.

“Heaven and earth bow down to the King of Kings.  When man sets himself upon my throne” the Lord says, “it is difficult to function.    When man takes on the burden of the actions of others it can crush him.  Bring your brother to Me and I shall free him.  The demonic addiction feeds on his unhappiness, lying to him about ‘peace’ when the truth is destructive oblivion (result of drinking), the daughter, his wife, truly loves this son.  Her lack of emotion is a defense against the pain he has caused her.”   The Lord said, “When I took her pain to my cross—I rescued her for this moment.”

On November 29 I was praying to be prepared to meet with someone to offer prayer ministry.  The Lord offered me this advice:    “Fear not.  I am with you.   As you meet with him, remind him that I love him, remind him of the Sacrament of Marriage—he and I have entered a covenant with his wife.  It is sufficient.  Call upon this grace.  Explain it as a battery recharge.  Full power is needed.   The difficulties of life are opportunities.  He who sorrows greatly has loved greatly–has had much that when lost or taken is more dearly missed.  Forget not the benefits I offer:  Everlasting life.”

On November 30th, I asked that I mightbring His name to those He called, to share what has been spoken.  I asked the Lord to open my ears, my eyes to truth, for the Holy Spirit to fill me with the breath of God.  The Lord gave me this advice to share:   “The time to set your mind and heart on the Word of the Lord is come.  The Wisdom of the Spirit bids you to Understanding.  That which was hidden in plain view is now revealed.  The depth of self is now turned inside out to allow a refreshing.  That which was kept—past mistakes, past denials, past acts of selfishness, past failings are now exposed to the Light of Christ and so the darkness disintegrates.  Only goodness and light remain as you breathe my Spirit within your hearts.

“Fear not, the time is upon you to step out in faith to a ‘magnified’ degree.  Exponential undertakings shall occur.  I have given each of you a base, a foundation.  Within your realm of knowledge you know Me.  This exceeds the intellect in every judgment, in every decision or choice.  Forget not the benefits I have given you.  You have ‘tested’ the gifts and they are true.

“When I say “move” I want you to say “Yes Lord” and then move.  When I say “heal” I want you to say “Yes Lord” and then heal.  When I say “Write”, when I say “witness”, when I say “give” I want your quick obedience.  You know my voice, you know my Way.  It is your choice.

“The commands of the Lord are clear.  The instruction in the Way has been the core of your lives these many years.  Fear not for I am with you to the ends of the earth.  I provide all that is needed.  I provide all the people you shall call upon and who you shall reach out to in my Name.  Build my Church; bring my Body to the fullness of well-being.  Fear not.  I am with you.

“As you ‘teach’ call upon the scriptures revealed in fullness with understanding.  The Church teaches truth—the opinions of Man has kept the fullness of truth from those who seek my face and has brought confusion.  Seek my face and banish all “opinion” that is contrary to truth.  I reveal to my prophets, I reveal to my Church, I reveal in scripture, I reveal in the hearts of man.  Truth is truth and does not contradict.  When eyes are opened you shall see clearly My Truth.”

You’ve been listening to Truth of the Spirit Episode 161, “Simple Lessons of Following the Way-Prophetic Advice”.  I’m Patti Brunner.  Be sure and check out our other episodes and YouTube playlists to help you with following the Way of Jesus.  We invite you to subscribe.  And then come back for more.  With the Holy Spirit there’s always more!  Amen.