{"id":214,"date":"2026-04-09T08:25:03","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:25:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/?p=214"},"modified":"2026-04-09T08:25:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:25:03","slug":"april-9-2026-824-am","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/?p=214","title":{"rendered":"April 9, 2026, 8:24 AM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

God:<\/em> Share your concerns with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Okay. So, like, I think people will assume<\/em> that my blog of talking with you is all AI generated. And frankly, I\u2019d rather people check<\/em>. Because if they do, then that\u2019ll build trust. Unless I\u2019m accidentally appearing to be like AI<\/em>, which would suck, because that\u2019s what I\u2019m not<\/em> trying to do. But I\u2019m not trying to not<\/em> do that. And like\u2026 I just feel stupid. Like\u2026 people won\u2019t look at this and go<\/em> \u201cwow, what a man of God!\u201d\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> Who said that was the point?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> \u2026Nobody. I didn\u2019t. I mean\u2026 I guess I just did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> You did. You acknowledged \u201cpeople won\u2019t see it a certain way, and that is an issue<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Okay, fine. Yeah. I want people to think well of me<\/em>. Because that would lead into opportunity\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (shaking his head, holds up his hand to stop me) \u201cIf people think well of me, I\u2019ll be provided for<\/em>\u201d. Isn\u2019t that<\/em> your thought?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Didn\u2019t I lead you out of a place where you were clearly not<\/em> thought well of, and brought you into immense favor<\/em><\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joseph didn\u2019t come out of a place of immense favor, into a place of immense favor<\/em>. He came out of a place of immense dishonor, INTO A PLACE OF IMMENSE FAVOR<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You think you have to control how people think of you<\/em>. Do you? That sounds rather controlling<\/em>. Do you think I am concerned with your ability to make people like you<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did I ever say a fruit of the spirit was likability? I knew better, and inspired better<\/em>. I know that fighting for relationship<\/em> isn\u2019t the same thing as fighting to be liked<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did I die so people would like me? No<\/em>. I died so I could build relationship<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not plan out \u201cokay, here is how I can make the whole world think I\u2019m the greatest God ever<\/strong><\/em>\u201d. Do you think I\u2019m concerned with that? I laugh from my throne at people who think they\u2019ll overthrow me. I care\u2014but I\u2019m not intimidated<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll fill the whole earth with my glory, but not because I\u2019m insecure<\/em>. I\u2019m very confident in my glory. I am very confident in my omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, and in my value<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That last word hit you. \u201cValue\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> \u2026Yeah. It did. \u2026I don\u2019t want to say more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(I see God leaning forward, smiling, waiting for me to speak. I start to smile, feeling a bit goofy at how stubborn I\u2019m being)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Okay, fine. (I tear up) I don\u2019t\u2026 think I have value. I create <\/em>value. That\u2019s my value. It is what I create<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when I look at my dad\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (holds up his hand) We\u2019re not talking about your dad. We\u2019re talking about you<\/strong><\/em>. Your dad is in heaven. He\u2019s not questioning if he has any value. You are<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Fine. I don\u2019t think I have value<\/em>. I create<\/em> value. And then someday I\u2019ll die, I\u2019ll get to heaven, and go \u201cwow, I get to be in heaven, a pretty little feather in God\u2019s cap!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (shaking his head) Do you think I make kings and priests as figureheads? No<\/em>; you\u2019re not a figurehead. My church isn\u2019t a figurehead, without value while I pull the strings behind the scenes. The church is my bride<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> \u2026I feel frantic, because I know we\u2019re getting to a root AND I DON\u2019T WANNA GO THERE<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (nodding) I know. Why don\u2019t you want to go there?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> (I start to smile) I don\u2019t feel scared of you<\/em>, I feel scared of\u2026 me, I guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I don\u2019t think\u2026 I don\u2019t think I can handle the truth<\/em>. So I hide<\/em>. If I deny the truth, I deny the pain of the truth<\/strong><\/em>. And then it can\u2019t get to me, and I can remain an optimist<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (laughs for quite a while) You can remain an optimist? Sounds like you\u2019re very optimistic about truth<\/em>. That\u2019s quite a circle of denial you\u2019ve got there. \u201cI\u2019m a pessimist about the truth, so I\u2019ll deny it, so I can remain an optimist about the truth\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Okay, it doesn\u2019t make sense! That doesn\u2019t mean\u2026 well, I guess it does mean it\u2019s wrong<\/em>. But I don\u2019t want to talk about it. (I see God smiling at me) Okay, I actually do! (I start to laugh) Why do you have to be a safe person?! I hate this. But I love it. I don\u2019t have to be scared\u2026 but I want to be<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (nods) If you acknowledge who I am, and understand it, fear is only a chosen experience<\/strong><\/em>. If you fear, you either struggle to understand who I am, or you struggle to accept it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does fearing you don\u2019t have value bring you comfort?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> \u2026In an odd way, yes. Because I think that nobody can attack me if I\u2019m already attacking me<\/em>. Like\u2026 nobody will be hard on me if I\u2019m already being hard on me<\/em>. Growing up, I was told that I didn\u2019t have to be disciplined, because I was already so hard on myself. But other people being harder on me feels way worse<\/strong><\/em>, so I\u2019d rather shame myself times 10 than let someone else shame me times 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> \u201cShame\u201d. Now we\u2019re getting honest<\/em>. \u201cI don\u2019t have value\u201d is truly a shame statement<\/em>. Fear is tied to shame<\/em>. \u201cI want to fear I don\u2019t have value\u201d is actually saying \u201cI want to live in shame<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you think that I<\/em> want you to live in shame?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Yes!… but I know that\u2019s not right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> Why would I want you to? Acknowledging the truth is good, but the part of you that believes the lie won\u2019t go away with adjacent truth<\/em>, but with replacing truth<\/em>. Don\u2019t try to pile on other truth to heal; let me replace the lie with my truth<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> I think if you know I live in shame, you won\u2019t have to fix me<\/em>. Like\u2026 you died<\/em> for my shame, but if I feel shame<\/em>, you won\u2019t have to die! Um\u2026 that doesn\u2019t make sense, you already died<\/em>\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (holds up his hand) Stop stopping your thought process. Confession involves acknowledging the lie<\/strong><\/em>. When you stop the thought process, you stop confession<\/em>. Confess, so you can become free<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Okay, so\u2026 in my mind, the greatest thing I could do is nullify the need for the cross<\/strong><\/em>. Because you dying on the cross is the worst thing human beings ever created a need for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (shaking his head) I didn\u2019t die because you forced me into it. I came and died on the cross out of my own decision<\/strong><\/em>. I didn\u2019t go \u201cwhy did people mess up so bad, now I have to die for them!<\/em>\u201d It was my choice<\/em>. I\u2019m not codependent. I made the choice, before you even were born to accept it<\/strong><\/em>, so you could choose to. Does that sound<\/em> insecure? Only the most secure being could take such a risk. I decided it was worth it even if you turned me away<\/strong><\/em>. Yes, I know what will happen<\/em>. I also know every person who will reject my decision. And I made it anyway<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> Isn\u2019t the fact you died for us the biggest blight of shame? Like\u2026 I should feel bad.<\/em> \u201cLook, I died for you! Don\u2019t you feel bad now?! Come and serve me forever?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(God starts laughing)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are you laughing? What I just said was awful! Get mad!!!!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(God looks forward at me, smiling, still clearly humored)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why won\u2019t you get mad at me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (inquisitive) Do you want me to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> I need you to!!!!!!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> Ah, here we are. What does me getting mad at you solve?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> It means you\u2019re being honest with me!!!!<\/em> It means\u2026 you\u2019re actually sharing how you feel<\/em>. If you\u2019re not mad at me, you\u2019re not being honest<\/em>. You can\u2019t claim to truly know me <\/em>AND NOT HATE ME. (I feel my shoulders relax, like I finally got something out)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m sorry. I\u2019m sorry\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> Stop. I\u2019m not angry. Thank you for your confession. Now we can talk through<\/em> it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who told you that I hate you<\/em>? Or that I should<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> \u2026I mean, you died on the cross because you hated what we did. And if my value is in what I do\u2026 and you hate what I do<\/em>\u2026 that means you hate me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (nods) That is very logical, and based on false belief<\/em>. \u201cI hated what you did\u201d. I didn\u2019t hate what you did<\/em>. I wanted to cover you<\/em>. I wanted you to be free<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not die because I hated human activity. I died so I could PARTNER WITH YOU IN IT<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll man\u2019s righteousness is as filthy rags\u201d. \u201cAbraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness\u201d. Joshua\u2014I love people<\/em>. I want to partner with you<\/em>. If you try to do life alone<\/em>, you\u2019ll look back with regret<\/em>. You already see how broken you were. But that\u2019s not who you are today<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You are righteous. I\u2019m not pretending. You believe me<\/em>. That means more than you realize<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your culture values production<\/em>. I am not mad at you for wanting to produce<\/em>. It\u2019s not bad to have that motivation. But please produce with me<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being raised in a culture that values production, while simultaneously being told \u201cGod hates everything you have ever done, and even after accepting his death and resurrection still hates what you do<\/em>, but your mission in life is to do<\/strong><\/em>\u201d, is of course, immensely distressing<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love what you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua:<\/em> I\u2026 can I believe that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God:<\/em> (nods) I created you for good works. I\u2019m not going to lead you into something that I hate<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is true you can make a mess of your life. It is also true that I acknowledged that I would bless who blessed Abraham<\/em>. But wait\u2014how is that possible if nothing people do could be called \u201cblessed\u201d<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love what you do. I just want to partner with you<\/em>. I don\u2019t like when you make mistakes. I hate when you hurt yourself, or separate yourself from other people<\/em>. But I don\u2019t hate you. And I don\u2019t hate what you do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have a drive to create<\/em>. You\u2019ve been told \u201cyou shouldn\u2019t place your value in what you do\u201d, however important your work may be. That is not wrong<\/em>. But I want to sharpen it a bit: \u201cyour love isn\u2019t based on your production<\/em>\u201d. You are loved. Whether you are sick, or whether you are well, you are loved<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You were sick and out of work last week, recovering<\/em>. Did I go \u201cwow, Josh is so much less lovable this week\u201d? No<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I love what you do. I want to partner with you<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The truth I want you to keep in mind today: \u201cGod delights in the work of my hands, so much so that he wants to be a part of it<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

God: Share your concerns with me. Joshua: Okay. So, like, I think people will assume that my blog of talking with you is all AI generated. And frankly, I\u2019d rather people check. Because if they do, then that\u2019ll build trust. Unless I\u2019m accidentally appearing to be like AI, which would suck, because that\u2019s what I\u2019m […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-journal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=214"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215,"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214\/revisions\/215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/todaygodtaughtme.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}