Tag Archive | God

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.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 2 – Who is God?

Mar23

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved.

 

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 2

 Who is God?

 Here I am, God. I am here to spend time with You today. Will You meet with me and share Your heart with me? I desire to know You better. God, please tell me who You are. Help me know You more fully today than I did before. I long to discover the intimate places of Your heart.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

I am your Father in heaven, Creator of the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too difficult for Me (Jeremiah 32:17 & 27). I am the God of all mankind. I created you to love you. I designed you for relationship with Me. There is an empty space in your heart that only I can fill—a God-shaped hole, just waiting and longing to be filled by Me. This is not just a one-time filling. As you go into the world, and live your life, your heart and mind are depleted. You need to be filled and refueled daily by Me.

I fill you and prepare you when you meet with Me alone, away from crowds and distractions. Meet with Me each morning to receive a fresh supply of My love and encouragement. This will keep your spiritual heart strong and healthy to meet the daily demands this life requires of you. With My love and empowerment, you will triumph through the challenges of this world.

 I am the lover of your soul. I love you and take care of you, when it seems no one else does. I am your Protector (Psalm 32:7) and Defender (Proverbs 23:11). I watch over you; My eyes are always upon you (2 Chronicles 16:9). Do not fear, do not be afraid. I am Love. My perfect love will drive out all your fears (1 John 4:18).

 I am your refuge and your fortress (See Psalm 91). I am Almighty God, Most High. You will dwell in the shelter of the Most High, and rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will trample your enemies (Psalm 60:12) and protect you from your adversary.

You may trust in Me. My faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2). I am compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in My love and faithfulness for you (Exodus 34:6). I am good, and My love endures forever; My faithfulness continues to all generations (Psalm 100:5).

I forgive your sins and remember them no more (Jeremiah 31:34). I am the God of second chances, and third and fourth, and more. When you believe in My Son, and confess Him as your Savior, you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old is gone, the new is here.

 I love you so much, I gave My one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the death penalty for your sin (John 3:16). Through Him, you may experience eternal life in heaven, and abundant life here on earth (John 10:10). All I have belongs to you. The indwelling presence of My Holy Spirit is another gift I give you. He takes from what is Mine and freely gives it all to you (John 16:15).

 There is so much more of Me that I want to share with you. Continue to meet with Me daily, and I will reveal more and more of My heart to you each time we meet. I’ll be waiting for you, My beloved one.

 Prayer:

Father in heaven, You are awesome and amazing. I cannot believe I am able to have two-way conversation with the God of the universe. That is so difficult for me to imagine. I can approach Your throne in confidence because Your Son, Jesus, provided the way for me. When I hear Your voice within me, it is such a special time for me. You are not the stern, angry God I once imagined. I wrongfully assumed You are disappointed in me all the time for all my failures. On the contrary, You see so much more potential in me. You really love me and want the best for me. You want to spend time with me to guide me, encourage me, and build me up. You want to help me become the person you designed me to be, so I can carry out the plans You made for me. Lord, thank you for revealing a small piece of Your heart to me today. Please help me hear more from You right now, as I spend a few more minutes in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

  • Father God, please tell me who You are to me personally. Tell me what you want me to hear and know today. (Write what God says to you in your thoughts.)

 

  • Lord, I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made by You. You created me in Your image. Lord, please share with me the characteristics of Your image that You see in me. (Record His answer here.)

 

  • Heavenly Father, what is Your heart for me today? What can I do today to show my love for You? (Write the first thoughts that come to your mind right now.)

 

Review the thoughts God gave you above. Is there a common theme in the impressions you recorded? Use the concordance of your Bible to look up a word that you heard more than once in your thoughts. Scan the list of occurrences of that word cited in Scripture. When you see a verse in the concordance that has special meaning for you today, turn to that passage of Scripture and read it. Write the verse here. Then, write all further insights and encouragement the Holy Spirit gives you as you meditate on God’s Word for you today.

 

 

Prayer:

Almighty God, thank You for sharing Your heart with me just now. You promise that when I seek You with all my heart, I will find You (Jeremiah 29:13). Lord, You have waited patiently for me. Thank You for not giving up on me. Thank You for pursuing a deeper relationship with me. As I begin to hear Your voice, know Your heart, and understand Your ways, I grow more and more hungry for this special intimacy with You. Lord, thank You for providing Your Son, Jesus, as the only way to have a restored relationship with You. I am so grateful for His obedience, even unto death on the cross, so that I could find You in the secret place and communicate personally with You. Father, thank You for Your plan of salvation and for the gift of grace and redemption. I owe my life to You. You are my All in All. You are everything to me! In the precious name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 1

Mar21

God uses difficult times like these to draw us to Himself so that we may experience a more cherished intimacy with Him than our normally busy lives allow.

 

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved.

 

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 1

Why Me?

Heavenly Father, why me? Why do You, the All Powerful, All Knowing, Ever-present, Amazing God, Creator and Ruler of the universe, desire an intimate relationship with me?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

You are My beloved child, a daughter of the King. Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born I set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5). I loved you even before I knit you together in your mother’s womb. I knew the number of your days before one of them came to be (See Psalm 139:11-16).

You are a crown of splendor in My hand (Isaiah 62:3). I have adopted you as My own child, even My heir (Galatians 4:5), and sealed you for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), so you will know Me and spend all eternity in My presence (John 17:3).

O daughter, I am with you. Do not fear. I take great delight in you. I will quiet you with My love and sing songs of joy over you. I will bring you home with Me, and I will restore your fortunes before your very eyes (See Zephaniah 3:17-20).

You are My beloved bride and I am your Bridegroom. I rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5). You are radiant. You reflect the light of My glory and your obedience brings Me joy and happiness.

Why you? I have engraved you on the palms of My hands (Isaiah 49:16). I love you more than you will ever comprehend. When you obey Me, I make My home in you (John 14:23). You are My temple, My very dwelling place (1 Corinthians 3:16). I know you intimately, and I desire that you would know Me as well.

Draw near to Me, and I will draw near to you (James 4:8). Remain in Me, and I will remain in you (John 15:4). Delight yourself in Me, and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

You are My beloved, and I am your Friend (See John 15:13-15). I desire a deeper intimacy with you. Know Me better and cherish the passions of My heart. Let My mercy, grace, and love transform your heart entirely and eternally.

Why you? I created you, and I desire a greater spiritual intimacy with you. Will you make time for Me, to know My heart? Be still and know (Psalm 46:10). I am God, and I love you, My child.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, Your banner over me is love (Song of Songs 2:4). Thank You for expressing Your love and joy over me, Your creation. Please expand my time and help me to spend more time in Your Word, and more time listening to Your voice as I seek to know the passions and desires of Your heart. Help me understand more of Your love for me, so I, in turn, can return that love to You and others. Help me understand who You are, and therefore, who I am in You, so I may become all that You designed for me before You breathed Your breath of life into my lungs. I desire to know You more intimately and love You more passionately. Thank You for meeting with me today. As I listen to Your voice within, please tell me who I am. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

  • Father God, please tell me, personally and individually, who I am to You. (Write what God says to you in your thoughts.)

 

  • Jesus, help me understand, what is Your desire for me? (Record His answer here.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, empower me to live my life for God, in step with You. What does that look like? (Record the thoughts given to you by the Holy Spirit within you.)

 

Review the thoughts God gave you above. Many times the Lord will bring words from Scripture to your mind. Use the concordance of your Bible to look up those words and verses. Read those Scripture passages and record them here. Write any further impressions and confirmations the Holy Spirit gives you as you read God’s Word for you today.

 

Prayer:

Father in heaven, thank You for communicating Your love and affections to me. As I seek to know You more personally, help me remember who I am in You. Give me the confidence to approach Your throne with boldness because Your Son has made me righteous and provided the way for me to experience intimacy with You. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit in me. I am so blessed that You are with me 24/7, all hours of the day and night. Father God, You never leave me or forget about me (Joshua 1:5). Jesus, You are with me always (Matthew 28:20). Thank You for these promises. Holy Spirit, write them on my heart and remind me of them as needed. In the precious name of Your One and Only Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Good Friday Morning

Apr19

Good Friday morning, Lord

I praise you today because:

You are my A-Z, my All in All

You are awesome, amazing, all-powerful, all-knowing, Alpha, Abba, Almighty, Advocate,

You are beautiful, bountiful, bold, Bright Morning Star, beginning, blessing,

You are Christ, colorful, creative, caring, Comforter, Counselor, Creator

You are dedicated, Deliverer, Daddy, delightful

You are excellent, exceptional, extraordinary, end, eternal

You are Father, forgiver, friend, fun, fantastic, first, faithful, faithfulness, firstborn, Fortress

You are God, good, great, generous, grace-full, guide, gifted, goodness, gentleness, Great Physician, glorious,

You are “Holy, Holy, Holy”, happy, High Priest, Healer, Hound of Heaven, heavenly, Holy Spirit,

You are Immanuel, intelligent, indwelling

You are Jesus, just, jealous, joy, joyful

You are King of kings, kind, kindness

You are Lord of lords, love, loving, Lamb of God, Lion of Judah, last, Light of the World

You are Mighty, magnificent, mindboggling, merciful, Most High

You are nice, new, near, needed

You are omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, Omega

You are Prince of Peace, powerful, present, Paraclete, protector, passionate, peace, patience

You are quick to forgive, quiet

You are royal, real, Righteous, Risen, Restorer, Rock, Refiner

You are Savior, Son, Spirit, sensational, serious, spectacular, self-controlled, Shelter, stronghold

You are true, Truth

You are undeniable, unfathomable, unimaginable,

You are Victorious, the Vine, Vinedresser

You are Wonderful, wise, wisdom, Warrior,

You are Xcellent

You are youthful

You are zealous

You are my A-Z, my All in All

Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross to pay the penalty for all my sin and all the sins of the world. Thank you for making a way, the only way, to return to the Father and be close to you. Thank you for your amazing sacrifice on my behalf. Father, thank you for giving your One and Only Son, to be the sacrificial lamb, to pay for my sin. Father, thank you for making the Way back to you. Thank you for the abundant life you give me. Thank you for saving me, restoring me, and using me for your glory. Lord, please continue to use me to accomplish your will. Please forgive me of all my sin that I commit daily. Lord, convict me so that I may remain in right relationship with you. Lord, help me to live in step with your Spirit inside me. Help me to bring honor and glory to your name with every little thing I do. Lord, refine me as you see fit. Let me be quick to learn, quick to forgive, slow to anger. Lord, let me be merciful and patient as you are. Lord, let me be loving and full of grace for your children, all those whose lives I touch. Lord, bear your good fruit in me: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Help me be like Jesus and daily be about your work in your kingdom here on earth. Lord, help me to live with you, for you, and like you. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.

My child, I would have died on the cross for you even if you were the only one. I love you this much, even more than you can imagine. You will never understand how high, how wide, how long and how deep my love stretches for you. I would do anything for you. I laid down my life for you. Will you now lay down your life for me? Will you submit yourself to me and my will? Will you live for me every day? Will you meet with me every day? Will you listen to me every day? Will you obey me every day? Will you think of me all day? Will you remember me? Will you talk to me all day? Will you let me love you? Will you receive my love, my truth, my instruction, my wisdom, my mercy, my joy, my strength, my provision, my direction? Will you delight yourself in me? Will you remain in me? I love you so much that I desire intimate relationship with you at all times. I will never leave you or forget about you. I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Will you remain with me? Will you remember me? Will you remember what I have done for you? Will you remember how much I love you and desire to be involved in your life? Will you let me show you my love for you every day? I am your Abba Father. I love you to the moon and back, to the ends of the earth, for all time. There is nothing you can do to make me love you more. There is nothing you can do to make me love you less. I love you no matter what. I love you unconditionally. I love you perfectly. Live in my love. Put me first and love me more than anything. Let my love shine through you as you love others. This is all I ask of you. Now remain in me, my precious child.

 Thank you, Father. Thank you, Son. Thank you, Holy Spirit. I owe my life and my everything to you. I submit myself to you. Have your way in me. I am delighted in you. Now delight yourself in me. Happy Easter! Amen.

My Sweet Baby Girl

Apr9


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

 

 

 

My Sweet Baby Girl

 

My “Sweet Baby Girlâ€, I can’t wait to meet you

Thinking about all the fun things we will do

From the moment you draw your first little breath

Until I depart this world with my death

 

Your Grammy will sing you sweet lullabies

And rock you to sleep as you close your eyes

I’ll read nursery rhymes with you on my lap

And peek in the crib while you’re taking a nap

 

We’ll play on the floor and make lots of noise

I’ll send you home with annoying, loud toys

I’ll teach you to crawl, to walk, even run

Every time we’re together we’ll have loads of fun

 

You’ll ride in the stroller as we walk down the street

And I’ll show you off to everyone that we meet

We’ll visit the park and climb monkey bars

I’ll push your little swing in our own backyard

 

Watching you take your first little step

Will be the most exciting thing yet

I’ll take lots of pictures and post them for friends

My brag book, chock full, will burst at the ends

 

I’ll watch you dance and enjoy your school plays

Afterward giving you oodles of praise

I’ll support your fundraisers and cheer for your sports

And celebrate all of your good grade reports

 

We’ll bake in the kitchen, getting covered in flour

I’ll take you shopping for hours and hours

We’ll play with dolls and go for bike rides

We’ll explore new places, side-by-side

 

We’ll go to the beach and build castles of sand

And walk the shoreline, your hand in my hand

We’ll have lots of sleepovers with giggles and fun

And crash in the bed when the long day is done

 

I’ll teach you everything that I know

Not only with words but also with show

We’ll talk about God and Jesus, His Son

I’ll share the wonderful things they have done

 

I’ll take you to church, and we’ll sit in the pews

I’ll share with you, the Gospel’s good news

We’ll read the Bible; I’ll teach you to pray

Not only at meals, but all through the day

 

I want you to know how much you are loved

Not only by me, but by God above

He knit you together in your mother’s womb

Perfectly, for improvement, there’s no room

 

He gave you two parents who are the world’s best

Knowing that you’ll certainly put them through tests

But no matter the things that you say or do

You must remember always that we all love you!

 

No matter your strengths, your weakness, your status,

Your behavior, your choices, anything you throw at us,

At any age, you’ll make my head swirl

You’ll always be Grammy’s “Sweet Baby Girlâ€!

 

I love you already, more than you know

I’ll love you forever, wherever you go

I’ll always love you, any way that it’s stacked

I’ll love you forever, to the moon and back.

 

Written especially for My Sweet Baby Girl–Arriving in May 2018

From your Grammy Sindy Nagel

 

Step 2 – Make the Time

Jan8


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

Deuteronomy 6

4The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.

6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Dt. 6:4-9, NKJV)

 

Step 2 in 7 Simple Steps to Hearing God’s Voice is – Make the Time

God wants you to hear this today:

He loves you more than you know, and He wants to spend time with you. He wants you to put Him first in your life and listen to His voice daily.

The first commandment God gave us in Deuteronomy 5:7 is, “You shall have no other gods before Me.â€

Anything that keeps you from spending time with Him is another god. Anything you put more value on than your relationship with Jesus Christ is another god.

Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.â€

God wants to be in first place in our lives. Don’t be like me and wait until you are in dire straits to deepen your relationship with Jesus. Pursue Him now—seek Him with all your heart; and you will find Him.

James 4:8 says, “Come near to God, and He will come near to you.†God patiently waits for us to spend time with Him.

When I wanted to put God first in my life, I had to make the time for Him. Can you relate? I worked full time, raised a family, I chauffeured my children to sports and other activities, and participated in Bible studies and church ministries. I did all the right things and I followed Jesus, but still my heart suffered a hollow sense. Discontent and dissatisfaction bred my search for more. This could not be all God planned for me. I soon realized I hadn’t left any time to be alone with God and just listen to Him.

My Christian mentor, who had been listening to God speak, encouraged me to find a quiet place where I could talk to God, and then be still and listen for His voice.

First, I had to expect and believe that God would speak to me. Next, I had to make the time. So I put God first by getting up at least one-half hour earlier than my normal time every day before I went to work.

The time quickly grew into forty minutes, then sixty minutes and longer, because as I heard from God, I loved being with Him. I used this time just to “be in relationship†with Jesus Christ, talking to Him, and then, listening.

At first, when I quietly sat with the Lord, it did not go completely well. I didn’t know how to hear His voice. I got so bored in the silence that I fell asleep. So I had to figure out how to keep myself awake.

Even if you are not a morning person, meet with God for at least a few minutes at the beginning of each day to ask for His direction, and listen to what He says. You may hear something important before you start your day. Then actively listen and be aware of God’s voice at unexpected times throughout the day. The Holy Spirit speaks to us all day long; however, we get distracted and forget to listen.

If you don’t hear from God right away, don’t quit! He doesn’t stop talking to you just because you don’t hear Him the first time. Remember the story of Samuel (1 Samuel 3)? God called Samuel three times before Eli, the priest, realized it was God calling. He continues to pursue you until you hear Him. He pursued me for nearly two decades before He finally got my attention. When He did, my life quickly transformed from boring to amazing!

Satan will do everything in His power to make us so busy we don’t have time to develop our relationship with Jesus Christ. Be intentional about making time for God—not because you should, but because your life will be so much more fulfilling and peaceful when you are in tune with Him.

I invite you and encourage you to put God first in your life. Make time to meet with Him alone and build a relationship with Him by listening to His voice. You may need to let something go. If you are not currently in an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, I encourage you to set aside some of the things you are doing and make time for Him. God will take whatever time you give Him. He just wants to spend time with you and show you how much He loves you.

What are you waiting for? Carve out a small chunk of time today when you can be alone with God and begin the practice of listening to His voice. You’ll be really glad you did. If you don’t hear and recognize God’s voice right away, don’t quit! God will honor your time and efforts and enable you to hear His still, small voice within. Truly, it’s time well spent!

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

Book One in Hearing God’s Voice Series

Buy Book Now! – 7 Simple Steps to Hearing God’s Voice

Step 1 – Expect and Believe – From: 7 Simple Steps to Hearing God’s Voice

Jan4


7 Simple Steps to Hearing God’s Voice: Listening to God Made Easy

By Sindy Nagel

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

Step 1 – Expect and Believe

To hear God’s voice, we must expect and believe we will hear it. In faith, we should not doubt that God speaks to us. James 1:5-7 says,

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.

DOUBT kept me from hearing God’s voice for the first twenty years after I became a Christian. My skepticism resulted in a lack of spiritual intimacy with Jesus Christ for the first two decades of my life as a believer.

I knew being a Christian meant enjoying a relationship with Jesus Christ. I thought I had one, but I didn’t really consider that it required two-way conversation with Jesus to maintain that closeness.

Unfairly, I talked to God, but I didn’t pause to listen to His response. I never dreamed one of the voices in my head might be the Spirit of God within me.

I didn’t EXPECT that God would ever speak to me, an average person. I knew He spoke to prophets, pastors, missionaries, and other spiritually mature individuals, but I never thought I could hear God’s voice.

However, one evening about eighteen years ago, it all changed for me. I heard a voice in my thoughts that I knew was not my own. It was God! He spoke to me, an average girl. Now I know ordinary people hear from God too. And I know God speaks to all believers, but we don’t always hear Him.

In John 8:47, Jesus says, “He who belongs to God hears what God says.†Jesus said it, so you can believe it! When you belong to God, you will hear Him.

The next verse helped me when I found myself hesitating: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!†(Mark 9:24). To hear God’s voice, we must first believe we will hear it—believe, and then anticipate hearing it.

I attribute my years of doubt to a deficiency in knowing and understanding God. More precisely, I needed to better understand His Holy Spirit within me. It’s absolutely vital we grasp the idea of who the Holy Spirit is in order to expect we will hear God’s voice and believe God speaks to us.

When we invite Jesus Christ into our hearts to be our Savior and Lord, we instantly have the ability to hear God speak because He sends His Spirit to live in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is God’s voice in us.

When Jesus died on the cross, He didn’t stay in the grave. Amen? And He didn’t leave us alone as orphans to fend for ourselves. He gave us a far greater gift—God raised Him from the dead, and He sent the Holy Spirit to live inside the heart of every believer.

Did you hear that fantastic news? Jesus is alive, and the Holy Spirit is the living God who dwells in us and gives us life! We do not place enough value on this gift. It is priceless!

By the Holy Spirit’s power we are able to hear the voice of God within us. Here are a few other things the Holy Spirit does for us:

  • He reveals to us what He knows and hears from God and Jesus. (John 16:13-15)
  • He testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (See Romans 8:16)
  • He seals us as a deposit, guaranteeing our eternal inheritance until the day of redemption. (See Ephesians 1:13)
  • He is our Counselor. He counsels us in the wisdom of God. (See John 14:16)
  • He is our Comforter who soothes us in times of sorrow, anxiety, and grief. (See 2 Cor. 1:3-4)
  • He is our Teacher. He reminds us of what Jesus said and recalls Scripture to our minds. He properly interprets the Word of God for us. He teaches us the truth. (See John 14:26)
  • He guides us to the truth. (See John 16:13)
  • He ignites our faith. (See John 6:63, Ephesians 3:16-17)
  • He empowers us to overflow with God’s hope. (See Romans 1:13)
  • He teaches us right from wrong according to Scripture.
  • He convicts us concerning sin, encouraging us to confess it and repent, or change our ways. (See John 16:8)
  • He transforms us and encourages us to become exceedingly more Christ-like through the process of sanctification. (See 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  • He is Immanuel, God with us 24/7. (See Matthew 1:23)
  • He makes the things of God known to us. (See John 16:14)
  • He gives us spiritual gifts from God. (See 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
  • He empowers us to do the will and work of God. (See Acts 1:8)
  • He is our intercessor, helps us in our weakness. When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit prays for us in accordance with God’s will. (See Romans 8:26-27)

The list goes on and on. The Holy Spirit of God indwelling us meets all our needs. Also, He connects us in relationship to God the Father and Jesus the Son. We know God better and experience more of Jesus through His Spirit within us.

The most astonishing part about all of this is the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God. Have you accepted this free gift?

1 Corinthians 2:12 says, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us†(emphasis mine). What a priceless gift it is indeed!

Jesus took our place on the cross. All we have to do is invite Him into our hearts to be our Savior and Lord. When we do, both abundant life here on earth and eternal life with God in heaven are free for the taking. We can have the Spirit of the living God dwell in us without any cost to us. Truly, this is amazing grace!

In John 16:13-15, Jesus explained the main role of the Holy Spirit when He said,

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you (emphasis mine).

God speaks to all of His children through the voice of the Holy Spirit within. He makes known to us all that belongs to God the Father.

We have the living God inside us, so why wouldn’t we be able to hear His voice?

There are at least 7 things that may prevent us: doubt, fear, pride, worry, busyness, disobedience, and an unwillingness to forgive. To be clear, these behaviors won’t necessarily keep God from speaking to us, but they may make us deaf to His voice. Learn more about each of these obstacles in my book, 7 Roadblocks to Hearing God Speak: Removing the Barriers between you and God.

Practicing any or all of the seven behaviors above may cause you to feel the All-Powerful God won’t speak to you because you’re not worthy to hear Him. Truly, despite your flaws and feelings of inadequacy, God continues to pursue you passionately. He doesn’t wait until you are perfect and sin-free to speak to you. If that were the case, none of us would ever hear from Him. Instead, the Holy Spirit helps you become more Christ-like, so it’s imperative you know how to hear and recognize His voice to utilize the promptings and assistance He offers you in the journey of sanctification.

Ironically, listening to the Holy Spirit and hearing from God are vital for identifying and changing or eliminating the seven behaviors causing your deafness to Him.

One of the roadblocks to hearing God’s voice is lack of time or busyness. The next step to hearing God’s voice is making Him your first priority and meeting with Him daily. This practice greatly increases your ability to hear Him speak. Expect to hear His voice. God does speak to you. Believe the truth. God desires an intimate relationship with you through two-way conversation. Now, make the time to listen. You’ll be really glad you did!

 

Click here to order this book now!

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

Book One in Hearing God’s Voice Series

 

Busyness Can Be a Roadblock to Hearing God’s Voice

May11


FroA woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.m God’s Heart to Yours

            Sweet child of Mine, I desire first place in your life. I request your best, your first fruits, not your leftovers. I want the first of your time as well. My plans are to prosper you, to give you hope and a future. I designed you with a specific purpose in mind. How do you know My best for you unless you listen to My voice? How will you receive My wisdom without turning to My Word? How will you know Me without spending time with Me?

            Your best-laid plans may not be My best for you. Your life is on GO sixteen hours a day, but how much of that time is dedicated to Me? To My work? Sixty minutes? Twenty? Ten? Any at all? You won’t comprehend the great depth of My love for you until you hear My whispers. You can’t begin to understand Me when you don’t make time for Me. You ask why you do not hear Me. Are you listening? Do you give Me time to speak? I do have something to say.


 Will you meet with Me in the morning?

Will you turn to Me mid-day?

Will you seek My face in the evening?

I do have something to say.

 

Will you turn off the television?

Will you put your phone away?

Will you shut down the computer?

I do have something to say.

 

Will you take Me with you golfing?

Will you walk with Me by the bay?

Will you talk to Me in your office?

I do have something to say.

 

Will you ask Me for My wisdom?

Will you bend your ear My way?

Will you listen with excitement?

I do have something to say.

 

Will you look for Me when you’re lonely?

Will you make time for Me in your day?

Will you call on Me in your trials?

I do have something to say.

 

Will you recognize My whispers?

Will you listen to Me when you pray?

Will you greet Me with anticipation?

I do have something to say.


Please make time for Me, My friend. I desire to walk through this life with you, but I’d prefer to lead. I am with you always. I’ll never leave you or forsake you. Please do not forget I am with you at all times, in all places. You are My beloved child. I am pleased by you. I wait with excitement to spend time with you. Please make that happen soon. I am here for you.


 


 

 

 

Three Gifts for Christmas

Dec25


A woman is standing at the microphone and holding a pen.Great things come in threes. God gives Christ followers many awesome gifts, too numerous to mention here, but the greatest are these three: 1) God the Father, 2) Jesus the Son, and 3) God the Holy Spirit—a.k.a. the Trinitarian, Three-In-One God.

God, the Father, sent His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to: 1) be born of a virgin, 2) walk the earth in the flesh as a man, and 3) die on the cross as a sacrificial lamb of atonement for the sins of all people. Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. He descended into hell to bear the punishment for all our sins. Three days later, God: 1) raised Jesus from the dead, 2) seated Him next to Himself at His right hand, and 3) placed all things under His feet, appointing Jesus to be head over everything (Eph. 1:22).

Matthew narrates the Christmas story highlighting the visit from the Magi in Matthew 2:9-11,

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Again, the number three triumphs. The wise men from the east bowed down and worshiped the Christ child. They presented Him with three treasured gifts: 1) gold, 2) incense, and 3) myrrh.

As you honor Jesus this Christmas by giving gifts to family and friends, bosses and co-workers, employees and charities, think about what three gifts you could present directly to the Christ child. Will it be,

1)     love, obedience, and trust,

2)     glory, praise, and worship, or

3)     tithes, offerings, and service?

Whatever you decide, you can’t out-give God. He already demonstrated the great depth of His love for you by giving the ultimate gift—the birth and death of His Son, Jesus Christ, as payment for your sin.

Perhaps you could honor the Christ child today with these three gifts: 1) your time, 2) your attentiveness, and 3) your discerning ears.

1)     Make TIME to BE STILL with God today.

2)     Escape the crowds and noise, and FOCUS your attention on Him only.

3)     LISTEN to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit within.

God loves you more than you will ever comprehend. He wants to spend time with you, showing you and telling you. In your quiet time with Jesus today, bow down and worship the King on His birthday. Present Him with your three gifts: 1) time, 2) attentiveness, and 3) listening ears. It is better to give AND receive JESUS.

My three gifts to God and you today are three FREE Kindle books, 1) Manna for Today, 2) 7 Simple Steps to Hearing God’s Voice, and 3) 7 Roadblocks to Hearing God Speak. Download your three FREE Kindle books today, in honor of Jesus Christ, my King.

Manna for Today – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019T6OWTU

7 Simple Steps to Hearing God’s Voice – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017XXKPYM

7 Roadblocks to Hearing God Speak – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M10Z420

 

In the love and service of Christ,

Sindy Nagel

Author/Speaker/Blogger