Tag Archive | empower

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 62 – Blessed are the Merciful

May23

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 62

Blessed are the Merciful

Lord, teach me what it means to be merciful. It is a great gift directly from Your hand. You are a merciful and loving Father; You show Your kindness and compassion to Your people from generation to generation. Help me to be a representation of Your mercy.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My blessed child, I created you in My own image; in the image of God, I created you. I am kind and forgiving, compassionate and loving, understanding and merciful. Practice My ways by the power of My Spirit within you. Show kindness and tenderness to everyone. Be willing to forgive, as you, yourself have been forgiven. My compassions are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Arise each day with a new acceptance of the one you find difficult to love.

I desire genuine devotion, not lip service. Practice My instructions; carry out My commands. Treat others as you want to be treated, with mercy and respect. This may require a change in the way you live. Stop and think before you act or react. Trade in a criticism for a word of kindness. Rather than exercising anger, willingly extend forgiveness. Hold your tongue; it can be a double-edged sword. Speak with words of encouragement and bring peace to a weary soul.

Show mercy and you will be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7). Sow seeds of kindness, and a harvest of kindness you will reap. Practice humility with love. Do not wait to be served, but serve one another in love. Be compassionate to the hurting, helpful to those in need, and generous with your giving. Exercise grace and mercy whenever you have an opportunity. Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

Religious activities mean nothing without personal surrender to the Lord. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Matthew 12:34). Be full of blessing and understanding. “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

In My great mercy, I have given you new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by My power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5). I have blessed you to be a blessing (Genesis 12:2). Bless others with an attitude of mercy, love, and forgiveness.  

Prayer:

Merciful Father in heaven, thank You for Your compassion and grace. You have been so faithful with Your promises and provision. Thank You for Your compassions; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). Thank You for Your forgiveness and Your peace. Help me to know the meaning of mercy and to pass that gift along to the undeserving one. Lord, share Your heart with me now as we speak one-on-one. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen

Two-way Conversation with God: 

  • Father God, please remind me of specific ways that You have shown Your mercy to me. (Jot down all the thoughts He gives you.)

 

  • Lord, Jesus, show me ways I might be merciful to others; even specific circumstances recently when I could have shown more mercy. (Write down all the ideas He puts in your heart.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, empower me with God’s character trait of mercy. Fill my heart with mercy for the one needs to see it from me. Lord, bring that person to my mind right now and give me the opportunity to exercise Your loving mercy to this person. (Record what you hear and any examples of you are given.)

Review God’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

Prayer:

Almighty God, You have made me in Your image. You are a compassionate, merciful Father. Lord, let me be as kind and forgiving as You are, so that I might be a good representation of Your character. Lord, teach me Your ways, and help me to be merciful that I might be shown Your mercy. Lord, help me be slow to anger and quick to forgive. Give me a heart full of mercy, even when I am not shown any. I desire to live in a manner which is pleasing to You. I humbly myself to You, in order to serve You wholeheartedly. Teach me Your ways, and empower me to live them out. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Genesis 12:2-3, 2“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Lamentations 3:22, Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Nehemiah 9:17, But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore You did not desert them.

Nehemiah 9:31, But in Your great mercy, You did not put an end to them or abandon them, for You are a gracious and merciful God.

Psalm 25:6, Remember, LORD, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

Psalm 78:38, Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.

Daniel 9:9-10, 9The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him; 10we have not obeyed the LORD our God or kept the laws He gave us through His servants the prophets.

Daniel 9:18, Give ear, our God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.

Hosea 6:6, “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”

Micah 6:8, He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Zechariah 7:9, This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Matthew 12:34, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

Luke 1:50, “His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.”

Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Romans 9:18, Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.

Ephesians 2:4-10, 4But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus., in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by race you have been saved, through faith—and this this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Peter 1:3-5, 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 58 – Full Obedience

May19

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 58

Full Obedience

Father God, the word ‘obey’ is perceived so negatively in society, and is so contrary to the ways of the world. Sometimes we fear what you will ask of us. How do You see obedience?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, do not tremble at the word ‘obey’. I will always enable you and empower you to do whatever I ask of you. I know what is best for you, and I would not ask you to do anything outside of My will. I am the sovereign ruler of the universe (Psalm 103:19). I have the power to do what I promise (Romans 4:21). You can trust in Me to do what is in your best interest. Submit yourself to My authority and My instructions. Trust in Me with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Me, and I will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Do not let your fear keep you from listening to My voice and obeying. As I commanded Joshua, so I encourage you, “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Your obedience may cause you to face some challenges in unknown places, but I am with you always, leading you on your way. I will fight for you and die for you. You have seen My promises fulfilled.

I am the omniscient Father. In all things, I know the perfect timing. There is a time for everything under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Do not rush ahead on your own, in your own timing, but wait on Me. I act on behalf of the one who waits for Me (Isaiah 64:4). Tune in to My Spirit within and be sensitive to His voice. He will show you when to move and when to stay.

Seek Me in the morning, and I will show you My will for your day. Put your trust in Me. I will lead you each step of the way in the plans I have for you. I may not show you more than the next step ahead. You may not have full understanding of the course I lead you on, but I will guide you down the path I have marked out for you. You may experience conflicts or objections from others as you seek to obey My will. You must obey Me rather than men (Acts 5:29). I am Lord of all. I see and know the future. I do what is best for your future. Trust Me with all your steps, even when you know not one of them. Be sensitive to My Spirit within. He will guide you in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:24).

On the other hand, disobedience brings consequence (Genesis 2:17). Continual disobedience is rebellion. This is not a good path to walk down. When you fall short of My will, be quick to confess and repent. Partial obedience is also rebellion. Full obedience is to do what I ask, how I ask you to do it, when I say to do it. Anything less than this is not obedience. I am not pleased with partial obedience. I love you and I want you to receive the blessings that follow your full obedience to Me.

Take the same attitude as Jesus did when He said, “Yet not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) Where would you be if Jesus had not obeyed My will and gone to the cross? There would be no escape from the payment of your sin—the death penalty. There would be no reconciliation with Me. You would remain in your sin and reap the just punishment, eternal separation from Me. I do not ask you to do anything I have not done Myself. Be obedient to My will and see it through to the end.

I hear your prayers and petitions because of your reverent submission; you will learn obedience from your suffering (Hebrews 5:7-8), even as Christ Himself learned obedience from what He suffered. You know Me if you keep My commands. If anyone obeys My Word, love for Me is truly made complete in them. Whoever claims to live in Me must live as Jesus did (1 John 2:3-6). When you love Me, you will obey Me. When you obey Me, I will love you and make My home in you (John 14:23).

Meditate on My Word day and night and be careful to do everything written in it (Joshua 1:8). Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22). Let your food, the nourishment of your soul, satisfy you in doing what pleases Me (John 4:34). I reward those who earnestly seek Me (Hebrews 11:6). Find My joy in your obedience; I always bless you when you follow My instructions. Show Me your love by the act of obedience to all I command you. I want only the best for you in all you do.  

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, not My will, but Yours be done. I know You have my best in mind, and what You have planned is best. Lord, I submit my will to Yours, and ask that You will help me and empower me to carry out whatever You ask of me. Lord, please speak to me more personally right now, and allow me to see the next step in the path You have marked out for me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God: 

  • Sovereign God, You see the big picture; You know the future. What is Your will for me? What is the next step required of me to be obedient to it? (Record everything you hear Him say.)

 

  • Jesus, You are the ultimate model of submission and obedience to the Father’s will. Please share with me how to have the same attitude that You achieved in the most difficult circumstances. (Write down all the words and thoughts He brings to your mind.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, empower me to do the will of the Father. Teach me to hear and know Your voice, so that I might be able to understand what is asked of me and rely on Your power to accomplish it. What do You want me to hear right now? (Journal all ideas and impressions the Holy Spirit gives to you.)

Review God’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

Prayer:

Father God, Your ways are higher than my ways, and Your thoughts are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8-9). I trust Your will and plans for me are perfect, no matter the cost or difficulty. I submit myself to Your will. I ask you to prepare me, equip me, empower me to be obedient and accomplish all that You created me for. I want to bring glory to Your holy name. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Genesis 2:16-17, 16And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Deuteronomy 4:2, Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.

Deuteronomy 5:27, “Go near and listen to all that the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.”

Deuteronomy 5:32-33, 32So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. 33Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Deuteronomy 6:3-9, 3Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lied own and when you get up. 8Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9Write them on your doorframes of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 30:2-3, 2and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, 3then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20, 19This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob .

Joshua 1:7-9, 7“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not urn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 27:14, Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 103:17-19, 17But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children’s children—18with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts. 19The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 119:57, You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey Your words.

Psalm 139:23-24, 23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Proverbs 3:5-6, 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Ecclesiastes 3:1, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Isaiah 55:8-9, 8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 64:4, Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Jeremiah 7:23, “But I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be My people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.”

Matthew 28:19-20, 19“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 11:28, He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Luke 22;42, “Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

John 4:34, “My food,” sad Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”

John 8:51, “I am not seeking glory for Myself; but there is One who seeks it, and He is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys My Word will never see death.”

John 10:2-4, 2“The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep listen to His voice. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When He has brought out all His own, He goes on ahead of them, and His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.”

John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 10:14-15, 14“I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me—15just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father—and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

John 10:27, “My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

John 14:23-24, 23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me.”

Acts 5:29-32, 29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! 30The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging Him on a cross. 31God exalted Him to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that He might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Romans 4:20-22, 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. 22This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

2 Corinthians 10:5, We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 23May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

Hebrews 5:7-9, 7During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. 8Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered 9and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.

Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

James 1:22, Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

1 John 2:3-6, 3We know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commands. 4Whoever says, “I know Him, but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5But if anyone obeys His word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in Him: 6Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 11 – I am Your Paraclete

Apr2

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 11

I am Your Paraclete

Father God, what do You mean by the word Paraclete? What does that mean for me? How does that define our relationship? Give me a glimpse of Your heart. Please teach me Your ways and provide me the knowledge of Your good gifts. Help me to appreciate all that You are to me—my Paraclete.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, I love to teach you My ways. I love to give you the knowledge you need to better understand My heart for you. A Paraclete is a Greek word that means “called beside or alongside to help.” I am your Helper, your Friend, who walks alongside you at all times.

I will remind you that Jesus calls you His friend (see John 15:12-15). He laid down His life for you because He loves you so profoundly. Jesus was the first Paraclete. And when He left the earth, He did not leave you as an orphan. He asked the Father to send another Helper, Advocate, or Paraclete, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). I am He.

I dwell in you, and walk beside you, as you navigate your life here on earth. I am your deposit guaranteeing your eternal life in heaven. I teach you (John 14:16), and remind you of what Jesus taught (John 14:26). I testify about Jesus (John 15:26), and convict you of your sin (John 16:8).

I am your Advocate. I love you unconditionally at all times. I stick closer to you than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I prove faithful to My promises. I do not abandon you. I encourage, strengthen, and empower you. I uphold, support, and defend you. I teach you the wisdom of God. I help you interpret the Word of God. I offer you counsel and comfort. I speak the truth in love. I speak to the Father in your defense. I give you spiritual gifts (Galatians 5:22-23). I transform you and empower you to live a life conformed to Jesus Christ. I do all this without your knowledge or recognition. I am your Best Friend. And I desire a more cherished, close, intimate, personal relationship with you. Do you desire to know Me more intimately as well?

Take a walk with Me daily. Walk with Me and talk with Me. Listen to Me. Obey Me. I am your Paraclete, and I have your best interests in mind. Let Me love you with the Father’s love, unconditionally. Let Me love you with the Son’s love, sacrificially. Let Me love you as a Friend, completely. You are My delight.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, thank You for giving me a picture of who You are to me. Thank You for caring for me so completely. I appreciate all that You are and all that You do. Thank You for remaining at my side and dwelling in my heart. Thank You for being available to me at all times, to counsel me, encourage me, teach me, and empower me. Please enable me to hear from you now as we sit together and talk. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

  • Father, thank You for sending the gift of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. What do You want me to know about this wonderful benefit? (Write all the thoughts you have right now.)

 

  • Jesus, thank You for being a Friend. Please tell me what that means for me. (Write your insights here.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, thank You for being another Paraclete. Tell me how to best tap in to your works in my life. (Record your thoughts and impression here.)

 

Review the Holy Spirit’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now. 

 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for being a close companion who walks beside me, guiding me through life. It’s a huge comfort knowing that I never walk alone, You are always by my side. I appreciate all that You do for me. I am grateful that I know the God of the universe who is willing to sit with me and speak to me. Thank You for Your words and thoughts I received from You and recorded above. Remind me of these truths whenever they fade from my memory. Lord, I love You with all my heart. Thank You for first loving me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture: 

John 14:15-17, “If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you will know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.” (emphasis mine)

John 15:12-15, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love as no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.”

John 14:26-27, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 15:26, “When the Counselor comes, who I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about Me.”

John 16:7-8, “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.”

Proverbs 18:24, A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 7 – I Forgive You

Mar29

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 7

 I Forgive You

Father, I am so humbled that You would shower me with Your grace and forgiveness. I am nothing but a sinner, and yet, You love me, in spite of my sin. Why? Why do You forgive me again and again, even forget all my sins (Hebrews 8:12)?

 A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

 I am your Father and Forgiver. I created you with a free will to choose. From the beginning, I allowed humankind the free will to make their own choices and decisions. Unfortunately, humans were deceived by the evil one and chose disobedience. Sin entered the world and clouded the vision of my children. Still, I would have it no other way. I created you with your own free will. Which way will you choose? Obedience or disobedience? Life or death?

 I created you in My image with a mind to reason, a heart to love, and a will to survive. You are a beautiful representation of My character and My love. Yes, your flesh causes you to sin, but your sin does not define you. Your identity is in Christ. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old is gone, the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17). Claim your new identity as My child and discard your old way of living.

 No temptation will overtake you. I am faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, I will also provide a way out so that you can endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). You always have a choice—good or evil, obedience or disobedience. Choose wisely. Do not rely on your own strength, but depend on Me and draw on My power within you.

 When you are tempted, look within your own heart to My Spirit. The Holy Spirit will empower you to choose the right way every time. It’s up to you to claim that power and walk in victory. Do not be overcome by sin and temptation, but overcome sin and temptation by My power and My might. You have the same power living in you that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-21). Tap into that power and stay on the narrow path that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Choose life!

 Daily dress yourself in My spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). This too will keep you from falling into temptation and sin. Recognize that evil is all around you. Stand firm in your convictions. Fight the daily battle against the evil one and the powers of darkness. Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).

 I love you, My child. I have forgiven you, now you must forgive others as I have forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32).

 Prayer:

 Father in heaven, I am so thankful that You created me to love me and care for me. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Thank You for sending Your Son to die in my place, so that relationship with You is possible. Lord, I feel indebted to You forever. But You would have done it anyway, even if I was the only sinner on earth. Thank You for Your Spirit who empowers me to resist temptation and sin. Thank You for providing a way out. Lord, will you now meet with me and share more of Your heart with me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 Two-way Conversation with God:

  • God, please share your heart with me about sending Your Son to die for me. (Record the thoughts God gives you.)

 

  • Jesus, what were Your thoughts as You willing went to the cross for me? (Write the impressions He places on your heart.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, remind me of an idea or verse from Scripture that will better impact me on the magnitude of God’s forgiveness. (Jot down any word or verse that comes to mind.)

 

Review the Holy Spirit’s thoughts and impressions you’ve sensed and written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

 

Prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for meeting with me and taking me into the deep places of Your heart. Thank You for sharing Your truth and promises with me. I value Your wisdom and direction as You teach me Your ways. Thank You for Your love and provision. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 32:5, Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Zechariah 4:6, So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Matthew 6:12-15, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

 Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter thought it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Luke 6:37-38, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

1 Corinthians 10:13, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Ephesians 1:7-8, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:19-21, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

 Ephesians 4:32, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 6:10-18, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, an after you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Colossians 2:13-15, When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Colossians 3:13-14, Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Hebrews 8:12, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

 

 

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 6 – Good News

Mar28

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 6

Good News

Mark 1:14-15 says, “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ He said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’”

Jesus is the good news—the good news is that God provided a way to a restored relationship with Himself. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for all our sin. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Him (John 14:6). Jesus is the good news!

To hear God’s voice regularly, we need to be in a close relationship with Him. God promises in Jeremiah 29:13, “you will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” It’s possible over the first few days in this journey to a more cherished relationship with God you have not been hearing from God during the two-way conversation time in these exercises. Have you been seeking Him with all your heart? Or does something stand in the way?

It may be time to step back and take an inventory of your standing with the Lord. One of the roadblocks to hearing God’s voice is disobedience or sin. The journey to greater intimacy with Jesus begins with acknowledging your sin.

The God of all creation is righteous and holy. He doesn’t want to be near immorality. So our disobedience, rebellion, and sin separate us from Him. Sin is anything that doesn’t please God. It’s not just committing one of the big ten, like: murder, adultery, idol worship, stealing, etc. Sin shows up in our everyday behaviors, like: gossip, lying, cheating, pride, jealousy, unrighteous anger, gluttony, greed, and judging people, just to name a few.

The Bible very clearly states that those who do not enjoy a saving relationship with God through Jesus are condemned to a life apart from God for all eternity. Born into the sin of Adam and Eve, we are all sinful by nature. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” However, despite our sin, God desires to be in close relationship with every individual He created. How is that possible? God sent His Son, Jesus, to bridge the enormous gap that sin creates between Himself and us. This is good news!

Although our sin separates us from God, no sin is too big for God to forgive, and we don’t have to get our lives in order before coming to Jesus Christ. God loves you just the way you are. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is great news!

God, in His unconditional, infinite love for His creation, established a way we could be forgiven, redeemed, and reconciled to Him. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to be the sacrificial Lamb and die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. In doing so, He formed a bridge between a sinful people and a perfect God. He provided the only way we could experience restored relationship with God, the Father. This is fantastic news!

John 3:16-18 says,

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

God gives us the opportunity to live with Him eternally, through His Son, when we confess Jesus as our Savior and Lord. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God promises that we will be saved when we accept Jesus’ death on the cross as payment for our sin and believe in His resurrection from the dead. Did you hear that? Jesus didn’t remain in the grave. He’s not dead! Jesus is alive! We can have a relationship with a living God through Jesus Christ because He lives! Isn’t this the greatest news you’ve ever heard? Yes!

If you have never confessed your sin and invited Jesus into your heart, what are you waiting for? Simply believing in God isn’t enough. To reiterate, Jesus Christ is the only way to a restored relationship with your heavenly Father. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Do you desire to walk with Jesus? Do you want a fresh start in life? Do you want to let Jesus heal your hurts and fill that hole in your heart that nothing else and no one else can fill? Do you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord today?

There is nothing you can do to earn your own salvation, and no measure of good behavior and good works will get you into heaven. It is by God’s free gift of His amazing grace and the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross that your sins are forgiven, and you are reconciled to God. The way to experience forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God is to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, accept that He died for your sins, ask His forgiveness, and invite Him to be the Lord of your life. When you do this, God sends His Holy Spirit to live in your heart. This is the beginning of an intimate relationship with God—the living God living in you!

In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” Jesus stands at the door of your heart today and knocks. Do you hear His voice? Will you open the door and invite Him in? If you are not a follower of Christ yet, and your heart’s desire is to know and feel God’s presence and peace daily, then accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and start your new “relationship” with Him today. You may sense the Holy Spirit of God encouraging you to make a decision for Christ right now. If so, say these words in prayer to God:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I confess that I have sinned, and I know that my sin separates me from You. Please forgive me for all my sins. I accept that Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to save me by Your grace. He died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sin and provide the only way back to You. God, I believe You raised Jesus from the dead. He is alive and lives to intercede for me.

Jesus, I invite You into my heart today to be the Lord of my life and give me a fresh start. Thank You for the promise of eternal life in heaven with You, and for the gift of Your Holy Spirit Whom You send to live in my heart right now. Please help me hear Your voice within me and lead a life that glorifies You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” If you prayed this prayer for the first time and were sincere, there is great rejoicing in heaven today! You are forgiven, and you will spend eternity with your heavenly Father. Your fate has been sealed by the Holy Spirit Whom God gave you just now. You are a child of God! Welcome to His family. The Bible says,

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. (1 John 5:11-15)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

If you invited Jesus Christ to be your Savior today, you now have a new life in Him, because He lives in you. By the power of God’s Holy Spirit within you, your actions and attitudes will change. With His help, you will discard your old way of living and seek to live a life that is more pleasing to God.

Record today’s date in your journal. This is your spiritual re-birth date. You are born again in Jesus Christ. Happy Birthday! God adopted you as His son or daughter today. This is the first day of the rest of your life! This is wonderful news!

Or possibly, you invited Jesus into your heart to be your Savior and Lord a long time ago, but sin has been creeping back into your life and you just need to get yourself right before God again. Take a little time with God right now to confess your sin and ask His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Then, repent and turn from your sinful ways. Allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from all unrighteousness and wash you whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7). Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to live a life more pleasing to God. Then, return to this journey in pursuit of God’s heart. Spend time with Him daily and enjoy a more intimate two-way conversation with the Lord. Be still and listen. And God will honor your time with the sound of His voice again.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for providing me a way back to You. Thank You for sending your one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the death penalty for my sin, and restore my relationship with You. I confess all my sin before you, especially these sins that Your Holy Spirit convicts me with right now: (list all sins that come to your mind). Lord, please forgive me and cleanse me of all unrighteousness. Remove the roadblock of disobedience so that I may hear and know Your voice in my heart again. Lord, let me hear clearly from you right now. Thank You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

  • Lord, what do you want me to know about the good news of Jesus? (Write all words and thoughts given to you in this moment.)

 

  • Jesus, please share with me your heart. Why did You give Your life for mine? (List all thoughts and impressions you have right now.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, how do you empower me to live a life more pleasing to God? (Record the things you hear in your heart.)

 

 Review the Holy Spirit’s thoughts and impressions you’ve written above. What Scripture comes to mind as you review your notes? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up an impression from God’s Word. Record the verse or passage here. Write all insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit illumines for you as you read God’s Word right now.

 

 Prayer:

Father God, thank You for making a way for me to communicate daily with you. Thank You for removing the roadblocks that stand in the way of my hearing Your voice. I am so grateful for Your unconditional love and grace that continuously gives me second chances, third chances and more. Lord, I look forward to meeting with You again tomorrow. I long to hear Your voice again, so I will know and experience more and more of Your heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 Supporting Scripture:

Isaiah 61:1, The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

Matthew 9:35, Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Psalm 51:7, Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved.

Roadblock #6 – Disobedience – The Enemy of Righteousness

Jun8


A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.

It’s pretty simple—disobedience to God is sin. Clearly, sin separates us from God. He despises sin and doesn’t want to be anywhere near it. Isaiah 59:1-2 says, “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.†This verse confirms that sin and an unrepentant heart can keep God from hearing you. When He hides His face from you, most likely, He will not speak to you either. Does sin, or disobedience, stand in your way of hearing God’s voice?

Confession of sin is not only required by God—it is necessary for your own peace of mind. Confessing your sin, turning from it, and attempting to lead a clean life of obedience open the door of communication between you and God. In our humanness, we won’t ever be completely free of sin on earth, but we should try to live our lives in a different way than the rest of the world.

Of course, if you’ve never confessed your sin and accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you already live apart from God, and the Holy Spirit does not occupy your heart. In that case, you should not expect to hear God’s voice within at all.

If that’s you, please click on the Ground Zero link below and view the video in which I share the Gospel of Good News. Learn more about how to invite Jesus into your heart and begin a new relationship with Him. When you do, God’s Holy Spirit, and the ability to hear His voice, are God’s amazing gifts to you.

1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.†Sounds like it’s not if we sin, but when we sin, confession is required. Then, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us. Our full acceptance of His pardon releases us from all guilt and shame for that offense. God remembers our sins no more, so we can forget them also, and strive to do better next time we are tempted.

Ground Zero Video – Click Here to Watch (Hosted at Gumroad.com – Click to “Buy or Rent” the video, then enter 0 as price to watch it for FREE.)

Even after accepting Christ as my Savior and being a Christian for many years, it’s still nearly impossible to live a sin-free life. That’s the goal, but sadly, in my humanness, it’s not achievable on this side of the pearly gates. Jesus is the only person who ever accomplished that feat. One role of the Holy Spirit is to empower me to overcome temptation and resist sin. However, if I am not tuned in constantly, listening to God’s voice within, or if I am not willing to obey Him, I will fall short of God’s glory. Therefore, it’s still possible, on any given day, that disobedience, unconfessed sin, rebellion, or repetitive sin could erect a roadblock that impedes my clear communication with God.

No matter how hard we try to defeat sin, at times, it becomes our master. Thankfully, we serve a High Priest who hears our confessions and daily intercedes on our behalf, restoring our relationships with God the Father. We worship an awesome God who sent His Son to be a sin offering in place of us, and then, He also sent us the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit to empower us to live our lives according to the Spirit rather than the sinful nature.

Satan has only as much power as we give him. How powerless have you become? Whatever your weakness, it’s time to take back control! All of it! We’ve been given Jesus’ authority over all sin. We have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, and He lives inside us. Instead of relinquishing our power to the adversary, we must draw on the strength of the Holy Spirit within us to resist temptation and our tendency to believe the lies Satan introduces in our thoughts. We have the ability stand firm in our faith and resist all temptation because the Lord does not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.†(1 Corinthians 10:13) Our brothers and sisters in Christ, who live in all parts of the world, suffer similar trials.

Be vigilant about guarding your heart and your mind. Do not allow the deceiver to carry out his battle plans on your watch. When I stood on the sidelines of life and did not participate in the big game, the devil did not need to concentrate his focus on me. The moment I invited Jesus into my heart and sought a more intimate relationship with Him, I enlisted in the battle of good vs. evil. Choosing God’s side, I put a large target on my back for the dragon, Satan, to take his aim. Satan sat up, took notice, and stepped-up his plan of action to derail me.

Most often, the common battlefield is our mind. Satan will continue to sway us toward disobedience. But Jesus triumphantly conquered this battle for us already. We can claim our victory over sin in the name and blood of Jesus Christ.

Are you ready to stand firm in your faith and embark on a barrier-free journey of intimacy with Jesus? If your desire is to do so, but you feel unprepared, I suggest you beef up your plan of counterattack against temptation and sin by practicing these steps daily:

  1. Confess your sin.
  2. Turn from your disobedient ways.
  3. Immerse yourself in the Word of God. Meditate on it day and night.
  4. Dress yourself in the full armor of God.
  5. Be ready to draw the sword of the Spirit by being prepared with Scripture to battle temptation and lies.
  6. Know your weak spots and vulnerabilities.
  7. Take control of all your thoughts and make them obedient to Christ.
  8. Remove any other roadblocks between you and God.
  9. Listen to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit all day long.
  10. Obey the voice of God in your thoughts.

Has the devil ever captivated your thoughts with the following deceptions? If not the lies listed below, then identify any other lies regarding sin that you have believed and disprove them with the truth from Scripture.

A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.#1: Your sins are too big for God to forgive.

#2: You need to keep asking for forgiveness for the same sin.

#3: God will never speak to you because of your sin or past.

 Click on the link below to purchase your copy of 7 Roadblocks to Hearing God Speak. Identify the obstacles and the lies that hinder your communication with the Holy Spirit, and then, make an effort to remove and disprove them. This book will get you started in the right direction.

Click here to purchase book today.

A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.

Book Two in Hearing God’s Voice Series

Step 6 – Enjoy the Rewards – Reward #5

Mar7


A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.

Reward #5 – Consider the Conviction

One of our responsibilities as Christians is to change our old ways and obey the Holy Spirit’s leading as He empowers us to become more Christ-like. This process is called sanctification. To be sanctified means to be holy, or set apart. Though we live in the world, we are strangers to it. We should act differently than our non-Christian friends do.

Through the work of Christ on the cross, we have been consecrated and made righteous in Him. Our old sinful ways have died with Christ, and now we can lead a new life of righteousness in the resurrected Christ. As Christians, we should appear different to the world. We are made righteous in Christ, and we should choose to live accordingly, so the world may know we belong to God.

Being a new creation is achieved, in part, when the Holy Spirit convicts us of a sin and encourages us to repent and change our ways. When we live as Jesus Christ did, it pleases God, and it provides a witness to a watching world. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!â€

Our sin separates us from God because He hides His face from wickedness. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to be our sacrificial lamb. Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, so we could be reconciled to God. Jesus made us righteous and holy so we could enjoy a relationship with the righteous and holy God. Now He desires that we would set ourselves apart from the world. He wants us to lead lives that stand out from the way the rest of the world operates. He doesn’t expect us to do this on our own, in our own power. He gives us the Holy Spirit, who convicts us of our sin and holds us to a life of righteousness.

In His saving grace, God gives believers a spiritual conscience—the Holy Spirit—who helps us discern right from wrong in His eyes. He convicts us of sin and empowers us to overcome the flesh and change our ways. “But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit†(1 Corinthians 6:17). We are directed to submit our spirit to the leading of God’s Spirit within us.

In order to lead a God-pleasing life, we must read His Word to know what He expects of us. The Bible is very clear on what is sinful and what is righteous in God’s eyes. When we obey Him and yield ourselves to the leading of His Spirit, He recalibrates our moral conscience to recognize sin, and then He helps us steer clear of it. When we do sin, He convicts us.

The Spirit encourages us to make choices that will please God. He reminds us of what we know from God’s written Word, convicts us of our sin, and empowers us to live a life of righteousness. In order to be led by the Holy Spirit, we must tune our ears to the living God inside us. As Jesus said before His death,

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.†(John 16:7-11, emphasis mine)

Jesus provided the way to reconciliation with God, and then He provided the way to live a consecrated life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus reunited us with God and gave us access to His power, so we may lead a life set apart for Him. It’s up to us to choose. We can lead a life of sin in the flesh or righteousness in the Spirit. If we choose righteousness, you can be sure the Spirit convicts us when we sin.

It’s important to understand the difference between conviction and condemnation. The Holy Spirit convicts us we are guilty of sin so we can confess it, ask God for His forgiveness, and turn from our sinful ways. In contrast, the devil condemns us and causes us to wallow in guilt and shame. The Holy Spirit says, “You did a bad thing,†while our enemy Satan says, “You are a bad person.â€Â  The Holy Spirit encourages or prompts us to confess our sin; Satan accuses our person, attacks our identity, demeans our self-worth, blames us, and charges us for our sin.

When we make a conscious effort to listen to the Spirit of God within us, we hold the keys to life and peace. We must allow our minds to be controlled by Him. Paul says we are obligated to be led by the Spirit. Does Satan continue to hold you in bondage and defeat? Or does God’s Spirit guide you into freedom, victory, and peace? When we obey Him and submit ourselves to His leadership, we will experience life and peace. Consider the conviction of the Holy Spirit when you are reminded of your sin and prompted to repent.

Regularly tuning in to the voice of God, the Holy Spirit within, accomplishes a giant step in the process of sanctification. If we are going to become more like Christ, we must not only listen to the voice of God, we must obey it. When you feel the Spirit prompting you to do or not do something, don’t ignore Him. When you feel a tug on your heart to carry out an assignment from God, no matter how big or small, be quick to comply. When you know the Spirit of God has spoken instructions to you, act upon them as soon as possible.

When a human spirit yields to the control of the Holy Spirit, the result is life and peace. Choose to live in the Spirit and be at peace with God. Listen to His voice, and consider the conviction. Is there a sin you need to confess or turn from? What is the Holy Spirit asking you to do or not do? What behavior do you need to change? What action have you been prompted to take? Perhaps it’s the other type of conviction–to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

Order now by clicking here.

A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.

Book One in Hearing God’s Voice Series

Be Strong and Courageous

Feb24

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Lord, It seems like we’re an old married couple. We’ve talked about everything over the years and have nothing else to say to each other.

That’s where you’re deceived, my love. I have more to say to you now, than I did when you first met me. We have become so comfortable with each other, we can say everything we are thinking to each other.

I have developed you into the woman I need to carry out my work. I have great plans for you. I have so many things to discuss with you. Don’t abandon me now. Don’t put off meeting with me just because you’re satisfied with the way things are going in your life. I still have things to share with you. I still have things for you to accomplish. Don’t be complacent in the life you have created for yourself, when I have grander things in mind for you.

Sit with me a while and listen to my voice. Let me tell you again how much you mean to me, how much I love you, how pleased I am with you. Do you grow tired of hearing my voice? You take for granted what some may never experience. You hear me speak. Many do not recognize my voice. You have the King of kings as your best friend. Many do not even know who I am. Do not put off meeting with me, because you think it’s a waste of time. When you know my voice, nothing I say falls to the ground. You hear every word. Now what will you do with it?

Come, my love. Sit in the warmth of my embrace. Let me sing praises over you. Let me overwhelm you with my love. Be filled with my perfect peace. Experience the joy of true, unconditional, committed love. I am yours and you are mine. We will do great things together. I will empower you with my strength and courage. Do not be afraid. All things are possible with me. I am the vine, you are the branch. You can do nothing apart from me. But with me by your side, nothing will stand in your way of doing my will and my work.

Be bold and courageous. Be strong and steadfast. Stand firm in your faith and battle for lost souls. Do not be ashamed of me or my Word. I am the One, true God. Those who do not know me are lost. Share my love with all you know. Bring them to me and I will take it from there. Be the ambassador of my love. It is my desire that all would seek me and know me as their Lord and Savior. I have blessed you to be a blessing. Go into the world and do my work. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

I love you, Lord.

I love you more!