Tag Archive | relationship

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 43 – A Stay-In Order: Stay in Me

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 43

A Stay-In Order: Stay in Me

Lord, with this COVID-19 pandemic, our state has issued a stay-in, stay-safe order. It keeps getting extended due to a daily increase in reported cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Lord, I will give You thanks in the middle of this difficulty, because it has given me more time to spend with You. What a huge gift it has been to rekindle the romance of an intimate relationship with You, my Bridegroom. Lord, what is on Your heart for me to learn and accomplish during this gift of extra time that You have given me?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My darling, My bride, My heart for you is to do exactly as you have been doing since this stay-in order was established: Stay in Me. What does that mean? Return to Me. Seek Me. Come near to Me. Remain in Me. Hope in Me. Trust in Me. Pray to Me. Believe in Me. Have faith in Me. Talk to Me. Ask Me. Tell Me. Listen to Me. Know all of Me. Love Me. Obey Me. Acknowledge Me. Acclaim Me. Witness for Me. Share Me.

Remain faithful to Me, for I am your husband. I have betrothed you to Me (Hosea 2:19-20). Stay in relationship with Me. Do not lust after other lovers. Do not put your trust in other gods. Do not turn to other pleasures instead of Me. Do not wander from the sheepfold. Do not get lost in obscurity. Do not become independent of Me; but be even more dependent on Me. Stay in Me. I am the Lord, and I love you more than you will ever comprehend. I pray that you will be able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for you, that you may know this love that surpasses knowledge and be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:18-19).

I am your Bridegroom. Your greatest joy comes from knowing Me personally and intimately. Know who I am. Know My ways. Know My promises. Know My Word. Stay in relationship with Me. Fear Me in awe and reverence, walk in obedience to Me, love Me, and serve Me with all your heart and all your soul (Deuteronomy 10:12). Put Me ahead of everything else in your life. I want to be first; I am a jealous God (Deuteronomy 4:24). I am protective of our time together and our relationship.

I desire to stay in daily communication with you. Meet Me in the secret place and pursue Me with all your heart. Speak to Me and listen to Me. Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). I want what is best for you. No human mind has conceived what I have prepared for those who love Me (1 Corinthians 2:9). My plans are to prosper you and give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). I will do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine, according to My power that is at work within you (Ephesians 3:20). I have given you My gift of the Holy Spirit who stays in you; please honor that gift by staying in Me; stay in and stay safe. I care about you, My friend.

Prayer:

My faithful Bridegroom, I love You with all my heart. I will seek You in the morning and wait expectantly to hear Your voice (Psalm 5:3). I, too, desire to communicate with You in a more intimate way. I cherish the time we spend together each morning, and I will be more diligent to remember to speak with You throughout the day. You are my life coach, my daily bread, my living water, my champion, and my friend. I will depend on You to meet all my needs. Lord, please speak to me now in a more personal way, so that I know deeper places of Your heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father God, I will stay in Please show me the best way to accomplish that in my life and current situation. (Record every thought that enters your mind.)

Jesus Christ, please reveal Your heart for my relationship with You. What do You desire, and what does it look like for me? (Write down all words and ideas He gives you.)

Holy Spirit, thank You for staying in me; help me to stay in How do I walk in step with You and remain in constant communication with You? You know me the best. How is this best accomplished in my life? (Journal every impression, every thought, every idea the Holy Spirit prompts you with right now.)

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:

Merciful Father, thank You for Your desire for a greater intimacy with me. It is difficult to comprehend the depth of Your love for me, Your child. I am in awe of Your character and Your ways. I am so blessed by You, and I pray I may be that kind of blessing to others on Your behalf. Lord, thank You for Your great love and grace. Please stay in me and let me experience all the fullness of Your heart. Thank You for the abundant life in Your Spirit. In the name of Jesus, my Lord, I pray.Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:23-24, ²³Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that He made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. ²⁴For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 10:12, And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Psalm 5:3, In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.

Jeremiah 29:11-14, ¹¹“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. ¹⁴I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.”

Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Hosea 2:16, 19-20, “In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call Me, ‘my husband’; you will no longer call Me ‘my master.’ …I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 2:9, However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love Him.

Ephesians 3:16-21, ¹⁶I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you wit power through His Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ²⁰Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, ²¹to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 42 – I am with You

May3

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 42

I am with You

Lord, I hear and know in my mind that You are with me. I read Your promises in Your Word. I can repeat these verses in my head, however, sometimes, it just doesn’t seem real. My heart does not always feel alive with Your presence. Lord, help me to know how to feel the joy of Your presence at all times. I will say the prayer of David from Psalm 51:10-12, ¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.” Lord, renew a right spirit within me. Please give me a fresh filling of Your Spirit today.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My beloved one, I will say it again for you: I am alive and I live in you. You may not always feel My presence, but I am here with you at all times. Listen to My voice; know and feel the joy of My presence. Seek Me first; spend time with Me in the morning. I will give you a good start to your day. You may hear a word of encouragement from Me, or an instruction, a blessing, or a command I want you carry out. Let’s connect daily; I wait patiently for you to seek Me, because I love you. Blessed are you when you acclaim Me, when you walk in the light of My presence. Rejoice in My name all day long (Psalm 89:15-16). Speak to Me throughout your day.

You are never alone when you are walking in relationship with Jesus. He is the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20). He will leave the ninety-nine in the open field in search of the one lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7). And when He finds it, He joyfully places it on His shoulders and brings it home. Feeling lost? Stop your wandering, little sheep. Jesus, your shepherd, knows exactly where you are. His sheep hear His voice, “Come home, little lamb. Come home.” Listen and obey. 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). Love Me by obeying Me, and we will make our home with you (John 14:23).

Of course, when you sin, we must deal with it as quickly as possible. When convicted by the Holy Spirit, confess your sin and turn from it. Disobedience stands in the way of close relationship with Me. I do not remain anywhere close to sin, so it separates you from Me. Quickly get rid of any roadblock that stands in the way of a close relationship with Me. “Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 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 that person, and they with Me” (Revelation 3:19-20). Feast on My words; enjoy My presence. Let us break bread together. I am nourishment for your soul. I bring refreshment to your days and life to your spirit. I am with you always (Matthew 28:20). Bear witness to My goodness; share the message of My love and salvation.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, the secret to feeling Your presence is spending time in two-way conversation with You. I must know You to feel You with me. I can know You by spending time in Your Word and speaking with You in prayer. Lord, You promise that “I will seek You and find You when I seek You with all my heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Lord, I will seek You while you may be found; I will call on You while You are near (Isaiah 55:6). Lord, hear my cries and answer me. Share Your heart with me now, O Lord, as we sit together in the secret place. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father God, it amazes me that You desire a close relationship with me. Will you describe what that looks like to You? (Record every word and thought He gives you now.)

Jesus, my Friend, will you share Your heart with me now. You are Immanuel, God with us. How do I feel Your presence? What shall I do? (Write His thoughts that pop into your head.)

Holy Spirit, I am drawing near to You now. Will you draw near to Me? Please convict me of anything that stands in the way of my relationship with God. (List any sins or shortcoming that the Holy Spirit reveals to you now. Confess your sin and ask the Lord’s forgiveness.

Prayer:

Lord God Almighty, thank You for the work of Your Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross who provided me the way back to You. Thank You that I, myself, may personally approach You any time. I am grateful that You want to enjoy a relationship with me, Your child. I do not deserve any amount of time You give Me, and yet, You are generous to remain with me always. Thank You for sharing Your heart, what it means to be in relationship with You, and for Your forgiveness when I fall short. Lord, I love spending time with You. Please help me to make it a regular practice, in good times and bad, every day, all day. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Exodus 3:11-12, ¹¹But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” ¹²And God said, “I will be with you, and this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

Joshua 1:5,9, ⁵“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you…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.”

Judges 6:12, When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”

Psalm 16:11, You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

Psalm 21:6, Surely You have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence.

Psalm 23:4, Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 41:12, Because of my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever.

Psalm 51:10-12, ¹⁰Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹²Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing sprit to sustain me.”

Psalm 89:15-16, ¹⁵Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, Lord. ¹⁶They rejoice in Your name all day long; they celebrate Your righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.”

Jeremiah 1:4-9, ⁴The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ⁵“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” ⁶“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” ⁷But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. ⁸Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. ⁹Then the Lord reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put My words in your mouth.”

Jeremiah 1:19, They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 29:11-13, ¹¹“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹²Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

Zephaniah 3:17, The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

Matthew 1:23, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 28:19-20, “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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 15:4-7, ⁴“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? ⁵And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. ⁶Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep,’ ⁷I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

John 14:23, Jesus 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.”

John 15:4-5, ⁴“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you; you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

Acts 2:28, ‘You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’ (see also Psalm 16:11)

1 Thessalonians 3:9, How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

Hebrews 13:5-6, ⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” ⁶So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Hebrews 13:20-21, ²⁰Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, ²¹equip you with everything goof for doing His will, and my He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

James 4:8, Come near to God and He will come near to you.

Revelation 3:19-20, ¹⁹“Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. ²⁰Here 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 that person, and they with Me.”

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 38 – Be Joyful

Apr29

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 38

Be Joyful

Dearest Father, You knit me together in the womb, and You know my inmost being. You know that I am not naturally a happy, joyful person. However, I do understand and believe that true joy is not a feeling, instead it is a gift from the Spirit and a confidence I experience in my relationship with You. Your joy is my inner strength (Nehemiah 8:10). My joy is made complete in a close connection and daily conversation with You. Thank You for producing the fruit of joy in my life through the gift of the Holy Spirit within me. Listening to Your voice and reading Your Word both bring me great and lasting joy.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, you may not feel joyful, however, that is exactly what you are. You experience supernatural joy through the gift of My Spirit. You possess the confidence in knowing that I am your God, I am in control, and you can place your hope and trust in Me and My promises. You have the assurance that I love you and care for you; therefore, I will work all things together for your good (Romans 8:28).

We are not speaking about the happiness that good circumstances produce, but an inner, enduring joy that supersedes the pleasures that the world offers. You may remain joyful in every situation because of your relationship with Jesus Christ who sustains you. That relationship never changes. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

I am your strength and shield. When your heart trusts in Me, it leaps for joy (Psalm 28:7). I grant you unending blessings with the joy of My presence (Psalm 21:6). My joy is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). I turn your crying into dancing and your mourning into joy (Psalm 30:11). Rejoice and be glad that My Spirit gives you unending peace and lasting joy.

My peace and joy are available to you in good times and bad through the gift of the Spirit. You may rejoice even when I don’t deliver you from your troubles, because you know that I will take care of you and provide for all your needs. It is during your trials that you grow the most. You learn to depend on Me and know that I will never leave you or forget about you (Hebrews 13:5).

Joy is also a choice. You may enjoy a positive outlook as you focus on Me rather than your sorrows and difficult circumstances. You know I will walk you through your trials. I am in control of everything. Nothing can separate you from My love (Romans 8:39). Be thankful for what I am doing in you through your challenges. When you are weak, I am your strength (2 Corinthians 12:10). Your joy will be made full. Choose Me and be joyful.

Prayer:

Dear Most Holy Father, I am joyful because of the peace, hope, faith, and confidence I have in knowing You love me and You are in control of all things. There is no one like You, Lord. There is no place I’d rather be than spending time in relationship with You. It brings me great joy to listen to Your voice and read about You in Your Word. Thank You for adopting me as Your child and allowing me to approach You with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). Lord, magnify my joy by allowing me to clearly hear Your voice and Your words for me in this moment as we sit in conversation. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father God, what brings You the most joy? (Record what you hear from Him.)

Jesus, my Savior, please explain to me the joy You anticipated even in Your darkest hour as stated in Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Write everything He brings to your mind right now.)

Holy Spirit, please sanctify me to become more like Christ and produce in me, the fruit of joy. Show me what that will require. (Journal all your thoughts and ideas.)

Prayer:

Lord, in the past, I could really relate to David’s claim in Psalm 30:11-12, “You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.” I experienced that new joy as You brought me from depression to dancing, and now I cannot keep silent about Your goodness. You have done great things for me and I am filled with joy (Psalm 126:3). I see where the Spirit has produced that fruit of joy in me. I will praise you forever, O Lord, my God. My heart sings and leaps for joy, even in the difficult times, because I put my faith and trust in You to carry me through. I can experience joy in any situation. Thank You for this realization. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, peace and joy, love and provision. Thank You for building a firm foundation of joy in my life and a lasting joy in my heart for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Nehemiah 8:10, Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 12:43, And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

Psalm 21:6, Surely You have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of Your presence.

Psalm 28:7, The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.

Psalm 30:11-12, ¹¹You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, ¹²that my heart may sing Your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever.

Psalm 47:1-2, ¹Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. ²For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.

Psalm 51:12, Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 66:1, Shout for joy to God, all the earth!

Psalm 95:1, Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Psalm 100:1-2, ¹Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. ²Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.

Psalm 126:3, The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy.

Proverbs 12:20, Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy.

Isaiah 12:4-6, ⁴In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim His name; make known among the nations what He has done, and proclaim that His name is exalted. ⁵Sing to the Lord, for He has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. ⁶Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Isaiah 51:11, Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 58:13-14, ¹³“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, ¹⁴then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land, and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Habakkuk 3:18, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Luke 6:23, “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”

Luke 10:21, At that time, Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what You were pleased to do.”

John 3:29, “The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is Mine, and it is now complete.”

John 15:9-11, ⁹“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. ¹⁰If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. ¹¹I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 16:23, “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

John 17:13, “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”

Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:35-39, ³⁵Who shall separates us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 12:12, Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10, ⁹But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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

Ephesians 3:12, In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 1:3-6, ³I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-2, ¹Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!

Colossians 1:9-12, ⁹For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, ¹⁰so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹²and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.

Hebrews 1:9, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Psalm 45:6-7)

Hebrews 12:2, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:8, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

James 1:2-4, ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

1 Peter 1:6-9, ⁶In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

3 John 1:4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 34 – Trade Your Anxiety for His Peace

Apr25

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 34

Trade Your Anxiety for His Peace

Sovereign Lord, You are in control of all things. I confess and acknowledge this fact, and yet, many times I forget it, giving way to worry and anxiety instead. Lord, I admit that You will provide for my every need and want. I place my faith and trust in You alone to do so. I trade in my anxiety for Your perfect peace. I lay down my worries, because You are the all-powerful, Almighty God, the one and only supreme ruler over everything. You love me and take care of me. How do I maintain a life and mindset free from anxiety and full of Your peace?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, give your cares over to Me. I happily take them on. I am the Sovereign Lord, in control of all things, and I will take care of every need you have. Do not worry about your life: what you will eat and drink, the clothes you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? I know what you need and I will take care of you. Seek first My kingdom and My righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34).

Trade in your anxieties and allow Me to replace them with My perfect peace. My peace I give you, not as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27). Leave your worries and your cares at My feet and do not pick them up again. Turn them over to Me. I am the Sovereign Lord, and I will work all things together for the good of those who love Me, who have been called according to My purpose (Romans 8:28). That’s you! I do this for you.

Lasting peace comes through a relationship with Me. You are My little lamb. I gather you in My arms, carry you close to My heart, and tenderly care for you (Isaiah 40:11). You have access to My peace at all times by the Spirit I have placed in your heart. You have the same power living in you that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:19-20). Be confident in My power; trust in Me forever and remain in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3-4). Remain in Me and find the peace your soul desires.

As you trust completely in Me, be an eager witness to My kindness. Profess your faith and trust until you, yourself, believe it more fully. Tell others of My goodness and grace, love and mercy, faithfulness and peace. You have traded in your anxieties to experience more of My peace. This is monumental. Worry adds nothing to your life; it sucks the life right out of you. But now that you have freed up so much time you used to spend in worry, you may spend more time working for Me, carrying out My plan and purpose for you.

When you place your trust in Me, your cares melt away as the snow on a sunny day. I am the bright Morning Star. I am here to light your way. Fix your mind upon Me, meditate on My Word and My presence, and your troubles will seem to diminish. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to Me. And My peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:4-7).

Trust 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). My timing and purposes are perfect. I am true to My promises and I direct your ways. Cast all your anxiety upon Me because I care for you (1 Peter 5:7). Trade in your heavy load for a lighter one; take My yoke upon you and find rest for your soul (Matthew 11:28-30). Trade in your anxieties for My perfect peace. Make this your daily practice. Resist the temptation to fret and worry; instead claim the peace I freely offer you.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, so many times, I have witnessed Your work behind the scenes orchestrating all things for my good. You deserve all the credit, honor and praise, for your goodness and provision. Worry is the product of not trusting fully in You. Lord, please forgive me of my sin. I confess that I do not trust in You as I should. Lord, show me Your heart right now and make it real to me that You will hold true to Your promises; that I can trust in You completely, and You will not fail me. Help me to hear Your voice and cling to Your promises. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Abba Father, even though I know in my mind that I can experience Your peace, I still resort to worry and anxiety when I feel out of control. Lord, please calm my fears and teach me how to trust completely in You, the Sovereign God who is in control of all things. Share Your heart with me now. (Write down the thoughts He gives you.)

Prince of Peace, I am so blessed to have You in my life. Thank You for Your peace unlike the world’s, the confidence I have by trusting in You completely. Please tell me more about Your peace that passes all understanding. (Record the words and thoughts you receive from Him.)

Holy Spirit of God, You are the peace in my heart. Help me remember I have access to Your peace at all times. How may I tap into that lasting peace You so generously provide? (Journal the thoughts He gives you.)

Prayer:

Most High God, when I think about it more, it is a relief that I am not really in control of anything; because you are in control of everything. There is a freedom in not being responsible for the outcome of any given situation. You created the heavens and the earth. The wind and waves take their commands from You. You keep me in perfect peace, when I trust in You (Isaiah 26:3). Lord, remind me often of your faithfulness and marvelous deeds. You watch over my life, my coming and going, both now and forevermore (Psalm 121:7-8). I will exalt You and praise Your holy name. I trade in my anxiety for your perfect peace. I cast all my anxiety on You because You care for me (1 Peter 5:7). I am so grateful for Your peace which transcends all my understanding (Philippians 4:7). In the name of Jesus, my Rock and Refuge, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Psalm 71:16-17, ¹⁶I will come to proclaim Your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim Your righteous deeds, Yours alone. ¹⁷Since my youth, God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds.

Psalm 73:28, But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds.

Psalm 121:7-8, ⁷The Lord will keep you from all harm—He will watch over your life; ⁸the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

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.

Isaiah 25:1, Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 26:3-4, ³You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. ⁴Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 40:10-11, ¹⁰See the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and He rules with a mighty arm. See His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. ¹¹He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart, He gently leads those that have young.

Jeremiah 32:17, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”

Ezekiel 12:28, “Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of My words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

Daniel 7:27-28, ²⁷“Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. ²⁸His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey Him.”

Matthew 6:25-34, ²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body; what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? ²⁸And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 11:28-30, ²⁸“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

John 14:27, “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.”

Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 1:18-23, ¹⁸I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, ¹⁹and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far 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. ²²And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.

Philippians 4:4-7, ⁴Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 31 – Child of God

Apr22

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 31

Child of God

Lord, what does it mean that I am Your child? How have I earned that awesome title? To what do I owe the amazing privilege of being a child of God?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, you have not earned this privilege of being called a child of God. It was given to you when you were created by Me, and when you were reborn again by faith in My Son, Jesus Christ. I knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). I created you because I love you. I know you by name and you have found favor with me (Exodus 33:13).

Before you were born, I set you apart (Jeremiah 1:5) and called you by name (John 10:3). I have lavished My great love on you; you are My blessed child (1 John 3:1). I desire a more cherished relationship with you on a daily basis. You are My child, and I love to spend time with you alone. Will you put Me first and make Me your highest priority?

In Christ Jesus, you are My child through faith (Galatians 3:26). Your sin separated you from Me. However, I provided the way to reconciliation with Me. When you received Christ as your Savior and believed in the risen Jesus Christ as My Son, I gave you the right to become My child, adopted by Me, through faith in Christ (John 1:12-13).

For My Son, Jesus Christ, has said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me” (Matthew 18:2-5). Take on the nature of a child of God, a lowly infant who is: dependent, pure, humble, meek, inquisitive, unassuming, obedient, passionate, loving, forgiving, and merciful. Be merciful as I am merciful, love your enemies and do good to them Then your reward will be great and you will be a child of the Most High (Luke 6:35-36).

You no longer need to remain in darkness. I am the light of the world, follow Me and have the light of life! (John 8:12). Believe in the light and walk in the light as children of the light (John 12:35-36). You are the light of the world; do not hide your light or allow the enemy to extinguish it. Let your light shine before others and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

You are a child of God, and therefore, you are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit you received when you confessed Jesus as your Savior and Lord brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him you are given the right to cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with your spirit that you are God’s child. Now if you are His child, then you are His heir—heir of God and co-heir with Christ, if indeed you share in His sufferings in order that you may also share in His glory (Romans 8:14-17).

You are human and you disobey Me occasionally. However, because you are My child, whom I love, I discipline you when you need it, in order that you may share in My holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:10-11). Consider yourself a legitimate child of God, when I love you enough to discipline you in the training of the Lord for a future harvest of righteousness and peace.

My blessed one, being a child of God is a privilege. It is an honor and a freedom. Along with any hardships you endure, you will also experience My favor in life, as My child. I will take care of you and provide for you. I will protect you and shield you. I will rescue you and uphold you. I am your loving Father, the Great Shepherd of His sheep. You are My little lamb that I love dearly.

Prayer:

Father in heaven, thank You so much for creating me, loving me, and adopting me as Your child. I am so blessed to be included as your little lamb in Your sheepfold. Thank You for Your favor as a child of the King. Thank You for your protection and provision. I live to bring You all the glory, honor, and praise You are due. Lord, please share more of Your passions with me right now as we sit in conversation with one another. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father God, will You now speak to Me personally about my privilege and role as Your child. What do You desire from me? (Record all the words and thoughts He gives you now.)

Jesus, my Savior and Lord, thank You for providing the way back to God, the Father. Thank You for the many blessings my faith in You affords me. Please tell me what my faith in You offers me as God’s heir, co-heir with You. (Write whatever pops into your mind right now as you listen to His voice.)

Holy Spirit, help me assume the lowly position as a Your child. May I desire to be led by You in everything I do and say. Teach me how to remain in step with You all throughout my days. (Journal all ideas you hear in your thoughts.)

Prayer:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thank You for Your love and the ability to hear Your voice in my thoughts. Thank You all for the work You have done in my life to bring me into a saving relationship with the Lord, an abundant life on this earth, and an eternity in heaven with You. I am truly blessed to be called a ‘Child of God,’ and I am eternally grateful for this privilege. Spirit please lead me and guide me through this life, so that I may let my light shine for others to see Your goodness and Your grace bringing all the glory to My Father in heaven. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Exodus 33:12-13, ¹²…You have said, “I know you by name and you have found favor with me.” ¹³If you are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You…

Deuteronomy 14:1, You are the children of the Lord your God.

Psalm 139:13-14, ¹³For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mothers’ womb. ¹⁴I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Matthew 5:14-16, ¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 18:2-5, ²He called the little children to Him, and placed the child among them. ³And He said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵And whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me.”

Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Mark 10:13-16, ¹³People were bringing little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, He was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.

Luke 6:35-36, ³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 18:16-17, ¹⁶But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁷Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

John 1:12-13, ¹²Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 8:12, When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 10:2-4, ²The 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 12:35-36, ³⁵Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walk in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

Romans 8:14-17, ¹⁴For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. ¹⁵The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.

Romans 9:26, and, “In the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people.’ There they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

Galatians 3:26, So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.

Hebrews 12:7-11, ⁷Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? ⁸If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. ⁹Moreoever, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! ¹⁰They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. ¹¹No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

1 John 3:1, See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 30 – Loneliness vs. Immanuel

Apr21

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 30

Loneliness vs. Immanuel

Jesus, sometimes I feel alone even in a crowded room. But Lord, other times I really am alone, in isolation, away from friends and family. How do I overcome the loneliness I feel when no one else is around? Where are You, Lord? Why don’t I feel Your presence, even though I have the knowledge that You are always with me?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

When you are lonely, remember I am here. I stand with you in your loneliness (2 Timothy 4:17). I am with you always. I am with you in the darkness and obscurity. I am with you when you are lost. I am with you in your devastation. I am with you at the bottom of the pit. I am with you in the storm. In your weakness, I will strengthen you (Philippians 4:13). Seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Call on Me any time day or night. I wait patiently for you to meet with Me in the secret place. Turn your eyes upon Me. I am here. I do not leave you alone. I care for you and provide for you. Share your heart with Me, and then listen to My voice. I speak to you in your thoughts. I will sing songs of joy over you. I will quiet you with My love (Zephaniah 3:17). I support you and encourage you, I comfort you and give you My peace.

In your hours of loneliness, find your comfort and encouragement in the pages of My Word. For the Word of God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). Open the Scriptures to experience more of Me and My heart. My heart is for you; I am in favor of you. I did not create you to abandon you. I created you to love you and experience intimate relationship with you. In your loneliness, reach out to Me and know Me. When you know Me for who I really am, you will never feel alone. I am with you always (Matthew 28:20). I love you more than you can imagine.

Jesus, My Son, also knew the kind of loneliness you face. As He went to His death on the cross, He felt totally alone. His disciples deserted Him (Matthew 26:36). Jesus momentarily felt the loss of My presence as He hung on the cross and cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). But He did not lose faith, living in the confidence that His Father would not abandon Him. His faith carried Him through His loneliest times. And Your faith will carry you through this time also.

You are part of My greater plan. At times, My plan may require you to experience times of isolation. Your friends or family may abandon you, but I never will. You have the privilege of serving Me. You are not alone. I am with you. I equip you and prepare you to carry out My will. I will not leave you or forget about you (Joshua 1:5). I AM Immanuel – God with you (Matthew 1:23) at all times. Please do not forget about Me. Call on Me any time. I am always right here, My beloved child.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of Your continual presence, through Your Holy Spirit dwelling in my heart. I am never alone. You are always by my side. Help me remember to turn to You more quickly whenever I feel alone or lonely. You patiently wait for me to call on You. You are quick to respond and gracious with Your presence. Help me find the meaning in the isolation as You develop and mature my faith for the works You have prepared in advance for me to carry out. Lord, speak to me now as we connect in conversation. Let me hear Your voice and Your heart for me. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father above, grace me with full knowledge of Your presence today. Please share the depths of Your heart for me. What do You want me to understand right now? (Record all words and thoughts He gives you.)

Jesus, when You felt abandoned by Your disciples, and even by Your Father on the cross, what carried You through? Please fill me with the knowledge of what to do when I feel most alone. (Write all thoughts and impressions Jesus gives you in this moment.)

Holy Spirit, let me not forget that You are ‘God with Me’ always. You live in my heart. Lord, describe the kind of relationship You desire with me. How can we make this happen? (Journal all your thoughts and ideas.)

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:

Heavenly Father, thank You for sharing Your heart and Your love with me today. I have the knowledge that I am never alone, but please help me remember to acknowledge You and Your presence in my heart at all times. I am never alone, and I will not feel alone when I am walking and talking in relationship with You. Thank You for loving me so completely. Thank You for making Yourself available to me 24/7. Thank You for the gift of Your matchless love, Your Son, Your Spirit, Your Word, and Your lifeblood in me. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Joshua 1:5, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Psalm 16:9-11, Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because You will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, or will You let Your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 68:4-6, ⁴Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him—His name is the Lord.⁵A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling. ⁶God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Psalm 89:15, Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence Lord.

Psalm 139:1-11, ¹You have searched me, Lord, and You know me. ²You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. ³You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. ⁴Before a word is on my tongue You, Lord, know it completely. ⁵You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. ⁶Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. ⁷Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? ⁸If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. ⁹If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

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

Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Matthew 1:23, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us).

Matthew 26:56, “But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted Him and fled.

Matthew 27:46, About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?”

Matthew 28:20, “…and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 5:16, But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Acts 2:28, “You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.”

Philippians 4:13, I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

2 Timothy 4:16-18, ¹⁶At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The ¹⁸Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever.

Hebrews 4:12-13, For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 28 – Remain in Me

Apr19

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 28

Remain in Me

Lord, please show me what it means to remain in You. How do I accomplish this? What practices do I need to put in place to reach this goal?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, My top priority for you is that you stay in relationship with Me. How is this best accomplished? First and foremost, maintain a regular, daily practice of meeting with Me alone in the secret place. The secret place is merely an area in your heart that you reserve for Me exclusively. It may also involve a physical location that you deem our special meeting spot away from noise and distractions, but more accurately, it’s a place in your heart reserved for Me alone—entirely devoted to Me and no one else—a private place. What’s done in secret will be rewarded (Matthew 6:18).

Secondly, remain in My Word. When you linger in My Word, reading it and meditating on it, you will almost always experience Me. My Spirit within you will guide you to Scripture and make it come alive with meaning for you personally, both for your life in general, and for specific circumstances you are going through at any given time. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7). Hanging out in My Word, saturating your mind with it, is very pleasing to Me. It is a sweet aroma that reaches deep into the middle of My heart. Your efforts will be rewarded as you make your requests known to Me.

Remain in Me and bear much fruit. I am the vine; you are the branch. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing (John 15:5). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). You are known by your fruit. I, also, am known by your fruit. When you remain in Me and bear My fruit, others are drawn to Me through you. Fruit ripened on the vine has the choicest appearance and the sweetest flavor. Remain in the vine.

Remain in communication with Me through listening prayer. When you pray, go into your inner room where you will be alone with Me (Matthew 6:5-6). I will hear your requests and answer them. Be sure to listen as much as you speak. Leave room in the conversation for Me. I have so many things to tell you. Things you do not yet know, great and unsearchable things (Jeremiah 33:3). You belong to Me, you can hear what I say (John 8:47). You are My sheep, listen to My voice and follow me (John 10:27). Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Listen continually. This is My will for you.

Remain in step with the Spirit by laying down your own passions and desires, and living out Mine (Galatians 5:24-25). Walk by My Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Be led by the Spirit and remain blameless. Be obedient to My commands, allowing the Spirit’s power to enable you to do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).

Remain in obedience to Me. Remain in My love by keeping My commands. My greatest commands are these: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor you love yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Love each other as I have loved you, by laying down your life for your friends (John 15:12-13). When you keep My commands, I know you love Me, and I will show Myself to you and make My home in you (John 14:20-23). I love you, My child. You are My dwelling place. Keep your heart engaged with Mine.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for Your generous Spirit. You have shown me today how to be more engaged with You. I know You are with me always, but I do not always remember that fact. Please forgive me when I forget You. I know You never forget me. Help me to remain in You more completely by practicing all the steps You communicated to me above. And now I long to hear more messages from Your heart as I enter my inner room, the secret place, to connect with You in a more personal way. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Abba Father, help me see you and feel your presence during this time of conversation. Lord, speak Your heart to me right now and tell me the great, unsearchable things, I do not yet know. (Write down every word or thought that enters your mind.)

Jesus, my Friend, please allow me to know and feel Your presence daily in my heart. Let me know how You would like to best engage with me. What shall I do to be more obedient and responsive to Your voice? (Record every thought making it obedient to Christ.)

Holy Spirit, come and have Your way in me right now. Lead me, guide me, comfort me. Whatever I need to hear from You, Lord, please share it with me now. (Journal all your thoughts to Him and from Him.)

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for creating me. Thank You for loving me so much that You sent Your Son, Jesus, to die for me and give me new life through His resurrection. Thank You for Your gift of the Holy Spirit who makes His home in Me and walks me through life, making me more obedient to You. I worship You, Lord, and I lift my voice. O my soul—Rejoice. I honor You and give You all the glory You deserve. I give myself wholly to You, Lord. Receive my feeble attempts to be obedient to Your commands, and teach me how to love You as deeply as You love me. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Deuteronomy 30:19-20, “…Now choose life, so that you and your children may live. And 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.”

Jeremiah 33:2-3, “This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is His name: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’”

Matthew 6:5-6, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Matthew 22:37-40, ³⁷Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Mark 9:7, Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the could: “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”

Luke 10:39, She had a sister called Mary, who sat the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.

John 8:47, “Whoever belongs to God hears what God says…”

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

John 14:20-23, ²⁰“On that day you will realize that I am in My Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you. ²¹Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them… ²³Anyone who loves Me will obey My teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

John 15:4-17, ⁴“Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. ⁶If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. ⁹As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. ¹¹I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be compete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You 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. ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might to and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you. ¹⁷This is My command: Love each other.”

Galatians 5:16, So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Galatians 5:22-26, ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray continually, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 John 2:24-27, ²⁴As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵And this is what He promised us—eternal life. ²⁶I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. ²⁷As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in Him.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 26 – Rescuer and Redeemer

Apr17

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 26

Rescuer and Redeemer

Lord, I have firsthand knowledge of You as my Rescuer and Redeemer. You rescued me from a life of sin and mediocrity. You redeemed me with Your own life to free me from the bondage of sin. You delivered me from the captivity of my enemy’s lies, and pulled me up out of the pit of depression. You set my feet on solid ground and began the rebuilding process in me. You exchanged the lies I believed for your perfect truth, and built up my faith and confidence in You. You prepared me to fulfill the purpose You created me for and gave me a new reason to live. Thank You for loving me enough to rescue me and redeem me from the life I created for myself.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My beloved child, I am so excited that you recognize, appreciate, and bear witness to My transforming work in your life. With My own outstretched arms, I have lifted you up out of the muck and mire. I set your feet on solid ground—My firm foundation—and I began the rebuilding process in you. You have gone to difficult places, brokenness in your heart, and allowed Me to heal you with My truth. You have been set free, so now you are free indeed.

You have put Me first in your life by remaining in close relationship with Me. You meet with Me, pray to Me, listen to Me, and obey Me. I cherish you, and I treasure the time we spend together in the Spirit. As a child that runs home from school and throws open the door to tell his family about his day, I can’t wait for you to run through the door to our secret meeting place, where I can hold you in My arms and encourage you with My love and support.

On those days when you have been bullied and underappreciated, I love to uphold you and support you through your challenges. When you are knocked down, I pick you back up, and strengthen your spirit. When your soul has been depleted, I refresh you with a new filling of My Spirit, and a new meal of My bread from heaven. I nourish your soul and quench your thirst. I am your All in All. I am everything you need.

I rescue you from the mundane and give you meaning and purpose for your life, doing the work I have prepared in advance for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). I redeemed your life of sin and rebellion and exchanged it for a life of holiness and righteousness for the glory of My name’s sake. I rescued you because I delighted in you (Psalm 18:19). You are My beloved child, even My heir. All that I have belongs to you. I am a loving Father who desires a deeper intimacy with you. I created you to love you, and I saved you, so that you could love Me and relate to Me. Let’s get together again soon, My friend. I have so much more of My heart to share with you.

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, I camp on the verse from Psalm 49:15 that says, “But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; He will surely take me to Himself.” Lord, You have so graciously done that for me and I am forever grateful to You. Thank You for rescuing me from my own dead inner spirit, and producing new life in me by the indwelling presence and power of Your Holy Spirit. Please speak to me now and share Your heart with me today. In the power of Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

Father, thank You for reaching down to rescue me from a life that did not glorify You as You deserve. Please share with me Your heart and Your reason for saving me. (Record all the thoughts and ideas He gives you.)

Jesus, thank You for paying the price of my redemption. Please share Your heart with me on what You want me to do with this information. (Write all ideas that pop into your head right now.)

Holy Spirit, enable me to enjoy a closer walk with You by opening my ears to hear what You share with me now. (Jot down all words and thoughts that come to mind.)

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for sharing Your heart and thoughts with me just now. I appreciate the closeness I feel when we meet. Help me to feel Your presence with me even when I don’t hear Your voice in my thoughts. You remind me that You are always with me; You never leave me or forget about me (Joshua 1:5). You are with me at all times, speaking to me and guiding me in the way I should go. I appreciate the love and affection You poured out on me today. Thank You for sharing your heart with me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Joshua 1:5, “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Job 19:25, I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand on the earth.

Psalm 18:16-19, ¹⁶He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of deep waters. ¹⁷He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. ¹⁸They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. ¹⁹He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.

Psalm 19:14, May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 34:22, The Lord will rescue His servants; no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned.

Psalm 44:26, Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 49:15, But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; He will surely take me to Himself.

Psalm 69:14, Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.

Psalm 91:14-16, ¹⁴“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges My name. ¹⁵He will call on Me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. ¹⁶With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”

Psalm 103:2-5, ²Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits–³who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, ⁴who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, ⁵who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Isaiah 44:6, “This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God.”

Isaiah 48:17-18, ¹⁷This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. ¹⁸If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea.”

Isaiah 59:20, “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

Isaiah 63:9, In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Daniel 6:26-27, “For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed. His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Galatians 4:4-7, ⁴But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. ⁶Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.

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

Ephesians 2:10, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 4:30, And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Colossians 1:13-14, For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Thessalonians 1:10, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Titus 2:11-14, For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

1 Peter 1:18-19, For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

2 Peter 2:9, If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 25 – Ask and It’s Yours

Apr16

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 25

Ask and It’s Yours

Dear Jesus, I ask for so many things all the time, but not always according to Your will or in Your name. Help me to separate what I want from what You want. Teach me to seek Your will and ask for the things that are important to You. Lord, help me make the time to ‘be still’ in relationship with You and know that You are God (Psalm 46:10). You will give Me what I ask according to Your will. Please show me Your will and teach me what and how to ask.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, you have not because you ask not (James 4:2). I am here waiting to bestow so many blessings on you, yet you have not asked Me for any of them. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).

My wisdom is available to you, by My Spirit, any time of the day or night. You have access to Him 24 / 7. The Spirit of truth takes what is Mine and makes it known to you (John 16:13-15). All I have is yours; simply ask and it will be given to you. The key is to ask. I want nothing more than to give you My wisdom to help you live the life I have intended for you, and to live a life more pleasing to Me.

Make the time to meet with Me in the secret place, away from noise and distractions. Pray to Me. Talk to Me. Listen to Me. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:6-8). I know what you need before you ask, however, I desire relationship with you, so I still want you to ask. I want you to know that you can depend on Me for all your needs. Ask Me for anything, and it’s yours. But I want to hear you ask. I want to communicate with you. I desire spiritual intimacy with you—face to face, heart to heart.

Remain in Me and let My words remain in you; then ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you (John 15:7). The key is to remain in relationship with Me. When you do, you will know My will. You have this assurance: Ask Me for anything, according to My will, and I will hear you, then you will know that you have what you asked of Me (1 John 5:14).

Approach My throne of grace with confidence. Receive My mercy and I will help you in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16). My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete (John 16:23-26). You may experience My joy even in the darkest of times.

When you ask, believe you will have it. Do not doubt (James 1:5-8). If you don’t receive it instantly, you doubt I heard you, or you doubt you will receive it. Wait on Me (Psalm 27:14). My timing is perfect. My ways are higher than your ways. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8). I know what is best for you, and I know the best time to give it to you. Trust Me. I work all things together for the good of those who love Me (Romans 8:28). I love you, My friend, and I desire the best for you. The best thing for you is to remain in relationship and two-way communication with Me. Keep asking and believing.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for the confidence that I may boldly approach Your throne of grace and ask You for anything. I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! (Mark 9:24). Lord, I desire relationship with You also. Help me to make You, and time spent with You, a priority. I want to seek You in the secret place more often. I desire to know Your will, and I respect Your timing. Please give me the patience to wait on You. And now, as I knock on the door of Your heart, please open the door and let me in (Matthew 7:7). In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

God, my Father, please share Your heart with me today. What is it You want me to know? (Record what you hear in your thoughts.)

Lord, I am asking You right now for _______________ (fill in the blank) in the name of Jesus. I ask for answers according to Your will and in Your timing. Please speak to me now about this request. (Record all words, thoughts, and feelings you have.)

Holy Spirit, I ask for God’s wisdom for my current situation. What would You have me do about ________________ (fill in the blank)? (Write your thoughts and impressions here.)

Prayer:

Father in heaven, thank You for hearing my prayers and for the listening to my requests. Lord, thank You for meeting with me today, and being available to me whenever I make time for You. Lord, I pray for Your wisdom and guidance in the situations we discussed above. Spirit of truth, reveal God’s wisdom, His will, and His answers to my requests. Thank You for walking with me 24/7 so that I may counsel with You any time. Teach me to pray and ask according to Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

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

Psalm 46:10, He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.”

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

Matthew 6:6-8, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Matthew 7:7-11, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”

Luke 11:9-13, ⁹“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

John 15:7, “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

John 15:16, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you.”

John 16:13-15, “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the 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 glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.”

John 16:23-26, “In that day, you will no longer ask Me anything. Very truly I tell you, My Father will give you whatever you ask in My name. Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:32, He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things.

Hebrews 4:16, Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

James 1:5-8, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

James 4:1-3, What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

1 John 5:14, This is the confidence 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.

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.)

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.

Sindy Nagel

Author/Speaker Communicating Messages from God's Heart to Yours and Helping You Hear His Voice Within

Tag Archive | relationship

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 42 – I am with You

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 38 – Be Joyful

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 34 – Trade Your Anxiety for His Peace

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 31 – Child of God

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 30 – Loneliness vs. Immanuel

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 28 – Remain in Me

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 26 – Rescuer and Redeemer

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 25 – Ask and It’s Yours

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