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Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 58 – Full Obedience

May19

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 58

Full Obedience

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

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer:

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

Two-way Conversation with God: 

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

 

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

 

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

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

Prayer:

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

Supporting Scripture:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 57 – Strength in Weakness

May18

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 57

Strength in Weakness

Heavenly Father, sometimes I feel so physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained. I am spent. I cannot even muster enough strength to take the next step, to put one foot in front of the other. Lord, where do I turn from here? Where do I find my strength in weakness? Why do I feel so weak? I am so humbled at this point. I have lost all my strength and independence.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My good child, let Me explain. In order to keep you from being prideful, I allow trials and challenges in your life. When you are humbled before Me and emptied of all your pride; when you reach the end of your ‘self’’; only then are you ready to receive My grace and help. You begin to understand that everything you hold closely, and all that you are, comes from My hand. Every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17). I see you in your weakness and give you My strength.

Pain, grief, disappointment, rejection, and failure may bring you to your knees. That is not a bad place to be. I often need to allow these tough times in your life before you are ready to let go and let Me go to work for you. I promise to work all things together for the good of those who love Me and are called according to My purpose 8:28). If you never experienced frailty, would you ever have a need for Me? My desire is that you will run to Me in these tough times, so I might teach you about My love and faithfulness. However, I would love for you to seek Me in the good times as well. Worship Me and seek Me with your whole heart (Deuteronomy 4:29). Love Me with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Put Me first, above everything else.

Depend on Me. When you are weak, it is then, you are strong in Me. Therefore, be willing to boast all the more gladly about your weaknesses. My power is made perfect in weakness (1 Corinthians 12:9). Your weakness is My strength. Believe it! You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). You will know My strength when you remain in relationship with Me, especially when you are at your lowest point. In difficult times, I am your rock and your fortress (Psalm 18:2). I am all that you need.

“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 41:10). I am with you in all your trials, every one. I will never leave you or forget about you (Joshua 1:5). I wait patiently for you to turn to Me for help and strength. My arms are always open to you. Run to Me when you are exhausted. I will renew your strength and you will soar on wings like eagles; you will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:31). I am here for you, My child. You have access to all that is Mine, including My strength, at all times. Just ask!

Prayer:

Father in heaven, I am in awe of You. You are so good to Me. You are always there for Me any time I need a helping hand, a word of encouragement, a boost in my spirit. Thank You for Your loving kindness and Your faithfulness. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I am thankful in the trials, because I can depend on You. Lord, please speak to me from Your heart at this time. In the name of Christ, my solid Rock, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God: 

  • Papa God, what is it that you want me to know and hear from You today? (Record all the thoughts He gives you.)

 

  • Jesus, my fortress and my deliver, renew my strength today. Speak to me from Your heart. (Write every word you hear from Him.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, lead me to the Word of God. Please encourage me in my weakness. (Journal the words and ideas He gives you.)

 

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

Prayer:

Loving Father, thank You for Your kind words and faithful promises. I am so blessed to have You for my Papa. I owe my life to You; You are my strength and my All in All. Thank You for renewing my strength when I am weak; even for carrying me in the difficult times. You build me up when I am frail. You lift me up when I am down. You support me in all I do. I love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Deuteronomy 4:29, But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

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

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 18:1-2, 1I love You, Lord, my strength. 2The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the strength of my salvation, my stronghold.

Isaiah 40:29-31, 29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

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.”

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.

2 Corinthians 12:6-10, 6Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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.

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

James 1:17, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 55 – Spiritual Battle

May16

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 55

Spiritual Battle

Lord, there is a daily battle of good vs. evil going on in my mind. I know it, I feel it—it’s real. I fight against the desires of the flesh on a daily basis. Father God, please make me even more sensitive and aware of this, and give me the tools of engagement. Make me strong in You. Arm me with Your protective battle suit and defend me against my enemy.

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

Child of Mine, you are in a daily spiritual battle—the enemy’s goal is to destroy you. Recognizing this is the first step to victory. Whether you realize it or not, there is a conflict raging in you between flesh and Spirit. Your struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). This battle is as real as you are. It is not a virtual war game. Prepare your method of defense for this war.

Before you put one foot on the floor each morning, dress yourself in My full armor so that you may be able to stand your ground (Ephesians 6:13). Buckle the belt of truth around your waist. The truth is you are My child and the devil has no power over you. Believe this truth and claim it. Your identity in Christ gives you the authority over your enemy, as well as, the victory over sin, death, and the grave, that the atonement of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross provided for you. Use your authority in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of His blood to bind up Satan and restrict his destroying influence in your daily life. You are supernaturally empowered by the Spirit of Christ living in you. Be sure to tap in to that amazing power at all times.

Stand firm then, with the breastplate of righteousness in place to avert the flaming arrows of the enemy. He shoots straight for the weakest areas in your heart, but Christ has made you righteous and blameless. Clothing yourself with the breastplate of righteousness, a life of honesty and obedience to God, will keep you pure and ready to stand firm in battle, deflecting all attacks against your standing in Christ. You are Mine, and you have been made righteous in Christ.

Ready yourself to proclaim the gospel of peace by fitting your feet with My battle sandals (Ephesians 6:15). Anchor yourself in the soil of My salvation and remain steadfast in your faith. Be prepared to share with the lost the message of My love and saving grace. Be a witness for Christ even in the midst of battle. And take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16). This is the all-encompassing protection of Christ against everything your enemy hurls at you. Your victory is sure in Jesus’ name.

Wear the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17), putting on the mind of Christ with all wisdom and discernment. Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Do not fight the enemy with your own words and thoughts, but use the Word of God as your weapon of choice. Just as Jesus battled Satan in the wilderness with the Word of God (Matthew 4:4), you too must fight the enemy’s lies and deceit with the truth of My Word. As the devil distorts Scripture, you will set him straight with the truth. The power of your testimony is no match for Satan. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). You are no longer a slave, but My child (Galatians 4:7). You have been freed from the bondage of the enemy’s lies. Do not return again to a yoke of slavery.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. You may experience My peace, even in your troubles (John 16:33). Though you live in the world, you do not wage war as the world does. The weapons you fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. You demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and you take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

Finally, be strong in Me and in My mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying (Ephesians 6:18). Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17) as prayer is another strong weapon of warfare. Pray your way through every challenge and struggle. The flesh may be weak, but you are strong in Christ Jesus. Stand firm, and when you have done everything, remain standing (Ephesians 6:13).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a warrior God; you are my strength and defense (Exodus 15:2-3). Train me and prepare me for this daily battle. Lord, speak to me now with Your words of wisdom, and transform my heart with the truth of Your love and promises. Give me Your peace that passes all understanding to guard my heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God: 

  • Abba Father, protect me with Your infinite wisdom. Train me in Your warrior ways. Teach me what I need to know for this spiritual battle. (Record everything He says to you.)

 

  • Jesus, my Deliverer, rescue me from this fight. Do not let me be bound by a yoke of slavery. Please make me aware of what that looks like. (Write all the ideas He gives you.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, please give me a sense of my most vulnerable weakness, along with the Scripture to fight against the enemy’s attack in that area. Prepare me with the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, so that I am ready to defend myself. (Journal the Scripture that comes to mind. If only a word, find the verse in your concordance and write it out here, then meditate on it and memorize it to repeat to the enemy in the battle.)

 

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:

Lord, You do not leave me alone to fight my own battles. When I pass through the waters, You are with me, the rivers will not sweep over me. When I walk through the fire, I will not be burned; the flames will not set me ablaze (Isaiah 43:1-2). You stand with me in the fiery furnace of affliction. You hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). You give me the victory in every struggle when I depend on You for my strength and wisdom. Strengthen my vulnerable areas and fortify my weak spots. You are my refuge and my fortress; I put my trust in You. I will make You my dwelling and You will give Your angels charge over me to guard me in all my ways. I will call on You and You will be with me in trouble; You will deliver me (Psalm 91). In the name of Jesus Christ and by His blood shed on the cross, I claim victory over my enemy and bind up the work of Satan, the destroyer. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Exodus 15:2-3, “The Lord is my strength and defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.

Psalm 17:8, Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

Psalm 91, 1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 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.”

Isaiah 43:1-2, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

Jeremiah 20:11, But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.

Matthew 4:4, Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 8:32, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretention that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Galatians 4:7, So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.

Ephesians 6:10-18, 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, an after you have done everything to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

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

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 40 – Praise Him in the Storms 

May1

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 40

Praise Him in the Storms 

Lord, where have you been during the storms of my life?

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, I have been there with you through each one, you just didn’t always know it. 

The raindrops that fall during your storms are My tears falling to the earth. I cry with you each time you cry. The lightning that you see flash across the dark sky of your storms is from My heart breaking in two for you. My heart aches for you each time I see you suffer through trials and tribulations. The thunder you hear during your storms is from My anger. I am angry when the people I have created cause you hurt and pain. I am angry when the enemy attacks you and wounds you. 

The winds that blow through your storms are the breaths of My sighs moving through the earth.  I sigh with compassion when I think of My beloved children going through the pain of daily struggles with relationships, disease, divorce, sin and death. When the waves on the seas crash against your boat and toss it to and fro in your storms, I am there to make sure the waves are not bigger than your vessel can handle. My hand is upon you.

When you feel you can’t last another day, I allow you to rest in My arms and I renew you with the strength you need to go on. When you wonder and ask why I would allow you to go through these storms, I do not get angry. It has not been easy for Me to watch you go through these tough times. You’re My child and I love you. I want to rescue you from each storm. But in My infinite wisdom, I allow you to endure the pain and suffering to bring you closer to Me. I want to build your character and mature your faith so that I may use you to help others through their storms. 

It is during these storms that I hope you will realize how much you need Me. I am waiting for you to cry out to Me so that I can extend My grace to you. My grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9). I will pull you through. I am also waiting for you to seek help from others, so that I can use them to be like Christ to you. Let down the walls of pride and reach out for assistance.

It is during these times, that I hope you’ll turn to Me. My heart breaks when My people turn to other things to comfort themselves, like:  food, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, money, and material possessions. I want to be your God, your one and only God. I am your anchor of hope in the storm. I am your stronghold; your rock and refuge (2 Samuel 22:2-3). Take your shelter in the shadow of My wings (Psalm 36:7). I will protect you from all evil and the evil one.

It is during these storms that I am waiting to show you how much you mean to Me and whom I can be to you, but sometimes you don’t allow Me to. You don’t give Me the time with you I need to accomplish this or your pride gets in the way. You want to be so independent and in control of your own life. You want to get yourself out of your own messes in your own way. You run ahead of Me. You do not want to rely on Me or on the fellowship of believers to help you get through the tough times.

In My word, I tell you how I feel about pride. I hate pride. Pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Proverbs 11:2). I oppose the proud, but give grace to the humble (James 4:6). When you are weak, it is then that I show My power in you (2 Corinthians 12:10).  When you share your needs with Me and with My faithful ones, you are not revealing your weakness, but your strength. By asking for help and prayers, you are being humble, so that you may experience all My grace and all My wisdom. But when you try to do it all on your own, you leave Me no room to help.

Do not forsake Me, for I will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). I have proven that. I am the God who saved Noah from the flood (See Genesis 6). I saved the three Hebrew boys from the fiery furnace (See Daniel 3). I saved Daniel from the mouths of hungry lions (See Daniel 6). I was with David when he fought the giant (See 1 Samuel 17). I released Joseph from Pharaoh’s prison (See Genesis 41). I saved Isaac from being sacrificed on the altar (See Genesis 22). I delivered Jonah from the belly of the fish (See Jonah 2). And I will see you through your storms too. Please notice that I did not keep these people from going through their struggles, but I did not forget about them; I was with them. I allowed them to go through their storms for their own good and then rescued them. And I will rescue you too, in My perfect timing, if you will let Me.

Praise Me in the storms. I love you and I will take care of you. I will rebuke the winds and the waves (Matthew 8:26). I do not allow you to endure more than you can handle, however, by the power of My Spirit within, you can handle a lot. Fix your eyes on Me and I will see you to the end of the storm. I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). I am with you in every storm. I set My rainbow in the clouds as My promise to you, that never again will waters become a flood to destroy all life. You will survive your storms. I will see to it because I love you.

Prayer:

Lord, I praise You in the storm. I praise You that You do not leave me alone. I praise You in Your sanctuary, in Your mighty heavens. I praise You for Your acts of power; for Your surpassing greatness. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:1-2, 6). With all the breath in me, I praise You, Lord. I praise You because You listen to my cries and quiet me with Your love. Please allow me to hear some more of Your heart right now, Lord. Speak to me in the stillness of this room as we sit together in conversation. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God: 

  • Father God, what stirs Your heart into action during my storms? (Record all the thoughts you have.)

 

  • Jesus, my faithful Savior, thank You for rebuking the winds and waves in my storms, and restoring the calm. Lord, please show me where You are in the storm. (Write the ideas and words that come to mind for you.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, I know You are with me always. Please help me feel Your presence and Your love in the midst of this tempest. Please describe the work You are doing in me through this current challenge. (Journal everything you hear in your thoughts.)

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:

Heavenly Father, thank You for speaking to my heart even now. I praise You in this storm, Lord. You are worthy of all my praise. I thank You for Your work in me as I learn to depend on You for all things, in good times and bad. Lord, I confess my pride of independence and ask You to forgive my shortcomings. I submit my spirit to Yours, and ask that You continue to mature me to be more like Jesus. I ask this in His name. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

2 Samuel 22:2-3, 2He said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior—from violent people You save me.”

Psalm 17:7-9, 7Show me the wonders of Your great love, You who save by Your right hand those who take refuge in You from their foes. 8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings 9from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Psalm 36:7, How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

Psalm 107:28-31, 28Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. 29He stilled to storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 30They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. 31Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.

Psalm 150:1-2,6, 1Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. 2Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness…6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Proverbs 11:2, When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18, Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Matthew 8:23-27, 23Then He got into the boat and His disciples followed Him. 24Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him!”

Matthew 28:20, “…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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.

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

James 4:6-8, 6But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and He will come near to you.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

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.)

 

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:

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.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 35 – Tired & Weary? Rest in Me

Apr26

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 35

Tired & Weary? Rest in Me

Heavenly Father, why do I wait until I am maxed out physically, emotionally, and spiritually to seek You for renewed strength and increased power. Your Word promises that when I put my hope in You, You will renew my strength. I will soar on wings like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:29-31). Help me to seek You at the beginning of my trials, before I run out of fuel, running in my own direction. Lord, I put my faith in You and Your power within Me, to walk me through this challenge. Lord, what do You want me to hear and know today? 

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

Come to Me, weary one. Lay down your burdens at My feet. I will carry your heavy load and exchange it for a lighter load to bear. Put your confidence in Me and find rest for your weary soul. My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). Surrender everything to Me and rest. Leave your worries and your cares in My capable hands. Allow Me to remove the weight of your responsibilities, and give you My perfect peace.

Hold fast to Me. Depend on Me for your every need. When you are weak, it is then you are strong (2 Corinthian 12:10). Trade in your stress, lay it down, and do not take it up again. Replace it with the confidence and joy of trusting in Me for everything you desire and need. My joy is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Take hold of the hope set before you and be encouraged. This hope in Jesus Christ is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:18-19).

When you face trials, consider it pure joy, a testing of your faith. Learn to persevere to the finish to grow in your maturity and faith in Me (James 1:2-4). Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9). Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Trust Me completely for everything. I am the Sovereign Lord, in control of all things. Submit yourself to Me. I am your helper. Be not afraid (Hebrews 13:6). I will see you through this difficult time. Cast all your anxiety on Me because I care for you (1 Peter 5:7). I will take care of you and allow your soul a break from the stress you endure.

Rest in Me. Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). Draw near to Me and I will draw near to you (James 4:8). I do not give you more than you can handle. I give generously the power of My Spirit within you. Look within you and find the strength which reinforces your constitution and foundation in Me. I am here. I desire to daily meet with you in a quiet place where I can effectively communicate the depth of My love and concern for you.

You are My beloved child, whom I love. I do not allow you to be overwhelmed when you depend on Me. Rest in Me, My love. I am your shelter and your strong tower. I will rescue you from your present difficulties in due time. Seek Me in the middle of your storms, and find your respite in Me. I will walk you through the valleys and push the mountains aside that stand in your way. I prepare the path I have marked out for you. This is the good way. Walk in it and you will find rest for your soul (Jeremiah 6:16).

Prayer:

Father, thank You for your comforting, encouraging words and promises. I will find rest for my weary soul when I spend some time alone with You. Jesus, as I draw near to You now, please draw near to Me and quiet me with Your love. Speak to my heart directly from Your heart through the voice of the Holy Spirit within me. Lord, I seek You now, to be still and know that You are God. In the quietness of this secret place, allow me to clearly hear a word from You. In the name of Jesus, my Rescuer and my Refuge, I pray. Amen.

Two-way Conversation with God:

 1)  Father in heaven, You are my Rock and Refuge. Please share Your heart with me now. How do I get to that place of shelter and rest in You. What do I need to add or remove from my life to best achieve this? (Write what you hear in your thoughts.)

2)  Jesus, my Savior, will You now reveal the desires of Your heart for me? How do I weather this storm and maintain a resilient spirit and faith? (Record His words and ideas for you.)

3)  Holy Spirit, I tune into Your voice and ask that You would remind me of and direct me to pertinent Scripture right now as we speak. Lord, what do You want me to know from Your Word? (Record all words and passages that come to mind just 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:

 Most High, Omnipotent Father, I rejoice in Your sovereign power to demolish all strongholds and restore peace and rest to my soul. Lord, thank You that You walk me through my battles and bring me to a peaceful place of rest in You. Thank You, Great Shepherd, that You carry me, as a lamb in Your arms, away from dangers, foils, and snares, and lead me to the still waters and lush meadows, Your haven of security and well-being. Lord, please prepare and light the way You have marked out for me, and help me run this race with perseverance, fixing my eyes on You only (Hebrews 12:1). In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

Joshua 1:9, “Have 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.”

2 Samuel 22:33, It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

Nehemiah 8:10, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

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

Psalm 28:7, The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.

Psalm 29:11, The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.

Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 46:10-11, 10He says, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11The Lord almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 84:5, Blessed are those whose strength is in You…

Psalm 105:4, Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.

Psalm 118:14, The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation.

Isaiah 40:28-31, 28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. 29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, 31but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

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 43:1-3, 1“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3).

Isaiah 50:4, The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed.

Jeremiah 6:16, This is what the Lord says, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Habakkuk 3:19, The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.

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.”

Romans 8:26, In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

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 6:9, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Ephesians 3:16-21, 16I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with 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.

Ephesians 6:10, Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

Colossians 1:9-14, 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. 13For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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

1 Thessalonians 3:13, May He strengthen you in your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.

2 Thessalonians 3:13, And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing good.

Hebrews 12:1-3, 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing 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. 3Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 6:18-19, 18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Hebrews 13:6, So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals to do me?”

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.

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

1 Peter 4:11, If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11, 6Humble yourselves, therefore under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. 11To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

 

 

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 29 – For the Good of Those Who Love Me

Apr20

Pursuing the Heart of God – Day 29

For the Good of Those Who Love Me

Lord, we know that even Christ followers are not free from personal struggles, challenges, trials, and disappointments. At times You allow us to experience difficulties in order to grow us in our faith and fortify our relationship with You. It is during these times, that we come to the end of ourselves and have no place else to turn, but to You. Thank You that You wait patiently for us to seek You and depend on You. When we seek You in the middle of the hardships, You strengthen our faith and increase our trust in You. We have the awesome promise that You will use all these trials, challenges, and disappointments for our good. Your love and grace are truly amazing!

A Message from God’s Heart to Yours:

My child, when you face difficulties in this life, rather than falling away from Me, run toward Me. Stay firm in the faith and put your trust in Me. Though you face opposition and obstacles, I am teaching you persistent determination. Do not be too eager for immediate resolution to your problems. Allow Me to do My work in My perfect timing and bring about the best for all concerned. In the process, I will teach you abiding hope and perseverance that will get you through anything you may face in the future as well.

Adversity may reveal a hidden sin in your life. Do not run ahead hoping to speed your way through this hardship. Take a step back and pay attention to the conviction of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). When necessary, confess your sin and turn away from it. Do not return to the ways of the flesh. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). Do not default to your old nature. Allow the God of peace to sanctify you through the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). Allow your adversity to be a bridge to a more meaningful relationship with Me.

Cast all your anxiety on Me. I care for you. Be alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing similar sufferings. After you have suffered a little while, I, Myself will restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. All power is Mine for ever and ever (1 Peter 5:7-11).

 Child of Mine, My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). I know all things, 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). Allow Me the room to move in your life in My ideal timing. Be strong and take heart, wait upon Me (Psalm 27:14). Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12). Be joyful in the confidence of knowing I am in control. Endure your suffering with forbearance. Always persevere in a continual posture of prayer. Give thanks in all things, at all times (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

I will allow this adversity only as long as it takes to accomplish My purpose in you. I will not leave you in it any longer than is necessary. You may have troubles, but I will deliver you from them all (Psalm 34:19). My purpose is fulfilled in you as you mature in your faith through your trials. When I have your attention, your heart is softened to spending time with Me. You are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29), as you persevere in your trials. You are being molded and shaped through the heartaches and pain, learning to be more dependent on Me, and being prepared to serve where I need you most. I desire your devotion to a deeper connection with Me. I love you, My friend, and I want to spend more time with you.

Prayer:

Almighty God, I praise You Father because You are the all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present God. You know what is best for every person and every situation and You will and work all things together for the good of those who love You and are called according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). Lord, I thank You that You created me, love me, care for me, and prepare me for the purpose You created me for. Thank You for the difficulties You allow that mature me into the person You need me to be to carry out Your purpose and Your plan. Please walk me through each challenge and teach me everything I need to know. Lord, speak to me now, as I meet with You alone. Share Your heart with me in a more personal way.

Two-way Conversation with God:

  • Father in heaven, You know the current difficulties I face, specifically _____________ (fill in the blank). Please speak to me about this situation, Lord. What is it that you want me to learn from this trial? (Record whatever thoughts come your way.)

 

  • Jesus, what is my responsibility in this circumstance I named above? What should I be doing? What will help me and my faith to mature the most as I wait patiently for this current affliction to be over? (Write down all thoughts that enter your mind.)

 

  • Holy Spirit, please show me how You are sanctifying me, making me more like Jesus, during this current trial. Help me to see myself through Your eyes. What do I need to change? How can I respond most favorably to this challenge? (Journal your thoughts and Scripture that comes to mind.)

 

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

Prayer:

Dear Jesus, my Prince of Peace, allow Your perfect peace to flow through my body, mind, and spirit. Help me to be confident in Your omnipotence, Your faithfulness, and Your grace, so that I can weather this storm and still remain at peace in the middle of it, knowing that You will see me through it. You alone can calm the wind and the waves and push back the clouds to reveal the sunshine again. I look forward to the rainbow at the end of this storm. May I humbly receive the instruction from Your lips which encourages the growth I need in my faith to withstand all the tests of time. Help me persevere in patience as I wait on You for the outcome of these momentary troubles. Thank You for sharing Your heart with me today. I wait on You, Lord, for clarity in my next step and for Your deliverance. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Supporting Scripture:

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

Psalm 34:6, This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.”

Psalm 34:19, The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Psalm 46:1, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 138:7, Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life.

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.”

John 16:7-11, 7“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. 8When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in Me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

Romans 8:28-30, 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. 29For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.

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

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

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

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: 6-7, 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.

1 Peter 5:7-11, 7Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 8Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. 11To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Copyright © Sindy Nagel. All Rights Reserved

My Light in Shining Armor

Dec9


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

My Light in Shining Armor 

By Sindy Nagel

 

You called me out of darkness

Into Your glorious light

Where once my eyes were blinded

You gave me back my sight

 

You freed me from the prison

Where Satan held the key

No longer am I bound by lies

Your truth has set me free

 

You reached down with a mighty hand

And pulled me from the pit

You set my feet on solid ground

A new light in my heart you lit

 

You’re my song every morning

My friend throughout the day

You whisper truth into my ears

When I make the time to pray

 

My comfort and my guide You are

I trust you my life to You

You walk with me in challenges

In trials, You see me through

 

Your praise I will forever sing

Your joy flows from my heart

You’ve blessed my life in countless ways

I don’t know where to start

 

Thank You for your goodness

In my weakness, You are strong

You comfort me in sorrow

And change my grieving into song

 

You’re my bread when I am hungry

My manna for each day

Your living water quenches thirst

You are my hope and stay

 

You took my wretched, dreary soul

And gave my heart new zest

To live a life that pleases You

And offer You my best

 

Accept my praise to You today

As lowly as it seems

You are my Light in Shining Armor

The Man of all my dreams

 

Thank You, Jesus. You’re the Best!

 

 

Are You Wearing the Latest Fashion–the Armor of Light?

Aug23


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

@prometeus

My dear child, have you laid out your clothes for tomorrow yet? Will you be wearing the armor of light? Put aside the deeds of darkness and clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Tomorrow morning, wake up from your slumber and put on My robe of righteousness. Do not hide in the shadows and gratify your fleshly desires. Instead, walk out of the darkness and into My glorious light.

You are My child; therefore, you reflect My glory. Fulfill the law by reflecting My love; it’s unconditional. Do not harm your neighbor. Neither should you judge him, because you, yourself, will be judged. Who is your neighbor? Anyone. Everyone. Spread My love to all you meet. Love even the unlovable. When you are obedient to the law of love, I am well-pleased.

I make My home in you. I am with you at all times. When love does not come easily, draw on My power within. In your weakness, I am strong. In your doubt, I am your confidence. In your pain, I am your peace. In your sorrow, I am your joy. In the darkness, I am your light. Let your light shine for all to see. Clothe yourself daily in the armor of light, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ.

From Romans 13:9-14 (NIV)

The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,†“Do not murder,†“Do not steal,†“Do not covet,†and whatever other commandment where may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.†Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

 

Image ID: 44298613 Historical Man ©prometeus from depositphotos.com


 

 

 

 

 

Join Me in the Dance

Sep13

Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp. (Psalm 149:3)

You are my child. I want to spend time with you. If early morning is the only time that works, then get up and dance with Me. I am your dance partner. I want to be involved in your life—all of it. Remember I am with you every moment of every day. Notice Me. Speak with Me all day long. Listen to Me first thing in the morning, throughout your day, and just before bed. Dance is an art form that requires practice to perform well. Practice dancing with Me all day long.

 

Join Me in the Dance

 by Sindy Nagel

 

Dance with Me in the morning

Dance with Me in the night

Dance with Me in the darkness

Dance with Me in the light

 

Dance with Me in the rain

Dance with Me in the sun

Dance with Me in the doldrums

Dance with Me in the fun

 

Dance with Me when you’re happy

Dance with Me when you’re sad

Dance with Me when you’re good

Dance with Me when you’re bad

 

Dance with Me when you’re anxious

Dance with Me when you’re still

Dance with Me when you’re hurting

Dance with Me when you’re well

 

 

Dance with Me when you’re broken

Dance with Me when you’re whole

Dance with Me in your heart

Dance with Me in your soul

 

Dance with Me when you’re weak

Dance with Me when you’re strong

Dance with Me in the silence

Dance with Me in the song

 

Dance with Me in the storms

Dance with Me in the peace

Dance with Me in captivity

Dance with Me in release

 

You may not know the steps

But don’t miss your only chance

To cherish this time together

When you join Me in the dance

 

Take my hand and I will lead you

The dance is more like a walk

A two-way chat between us

When we listen and we talk

 

Spend some time in the silence

Get away from the crowds and noise

Be still and know that I am God

And listen to my voice