Stop Obsessing Over It!

After all the thinking, obsessing, and worrying, sometimes we just need to let go. To trust God. And to stop giving the situation more time and thought than Him, and to remember that nothing is so big that it should rob us of our days or take our focus off of Him. 

Whatever it is, whatever we ever deal with this side of Heaven, is so small in the light of eternity, and every single day there’s an opportunity to in it to give God glory. Remember what life is about. Remember what you are here for. Remember WHO you are living for, friend. And whatever the situation is that you are in? Is all a part of HIS plan. So let go and trust Him. He’s got it. He’s got YOU. 💕

Pure in Heart

Father God,

Create in us a softened, clean, healed, whole heart...

A heart that is cultivated and fertile to receive Your Word and Truth...

A heart that is filled with the full measure of Your unconditional, merciful love and grace.

Weed out and remove the things that bind us and cause us to separate ourselves from You, Lord.

Plant Your seeds in the soil of our hearts, Father, and grow our roots deep...nourish and flourish us with Your Living Waters.

And let us bear an ever-increasing yield of fruits of The Spirit, according to Your Will for us in Jesus Christ.

May we all have ears that hear and a penetrable heart, for Your Glory...

In The Name of our Holy and Righteous Savior, Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Mark 4:3-9

"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

Luke 8:15

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luke 8:16

No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a lampstand, so those who enter can see the light.

Psalm 51:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

.

I Will Praise You

We praise you, Father!.

For, we are fearfully and wonderfully made, by You and for Your purpose and pleasure!

You have carefully crafted creation and breathed life into all that exists, both seen and unseen;

Yet, we are thought of, loved and adored by You, in ways we cannot even fathom.

Oh, we are truly blessed, for we know that not only do we live, but that we are delightfully designed to spend all eternity with You! .

In Christ's Name,

Amen.

Psalm 139:14

Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us Cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. .

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Job 5:9

Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number.

Colossians 1:16

For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him..

Nehemiah 9:6

You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You..

Ephesians 1:4

For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence...

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus...

1 John 2:25

And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.

Lead Me To The Rock

The Psalms are the prayers of King David during the most overwhelming times of His life. His trials and problems always brought Him to his knees before God.

He knew when He was overwhelmed and had reached the limit of what he could endure, to cry out to the One who can bear all things and gives us rest. .

We too can cry out to that same Rock – to Jesus Christ - our rock of deliverance, our rock of defense, our rock of salvation, our rock of our strength.

David cries out “Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.” Notice our job is to cry out to God in our distress, and the job of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to Jesus.

If you are overwhelmed today, if your circumstances are more than you can bear, cry out to Jesus – to the Rock that is his higher than you and higher than your circumstances, higher than all your problems.

He will deliver you. He will bring you to a place of rest, strength, and victory. .

Psalm 18:46 

The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.

Psalm 27:5 

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalm 40:2 

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and put my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.

Psalm 62:26

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be moved.

God With Us

Praise God that He made a way for humanity to be reconciled unto Him! A Holy Child born and given to us through the zealous love of The LORD God!

He is the Wonderful Counselor who listens to every sorrow. He intimately knows every struggle and the innermost desires of our hearts. He provides an eternal resource to those who call upon His name.

He is our Mighty God and LORD over all. He is able and willing to save, shield and deliver each of His precious children. He is watching over His Word and fulfills It. .

He is our Eternal Father, Alpha and Omega, nailed to The Cross, and interceding on our behalf every second of every day. He designed us in His image and made a way for us to reside with Him forever. He completes us..

He is the Prince of Peace, promising an abundant life of hope, love, joy and a sound mind to those who diligently seek Him..

God was with us then...He is with us now...He is with us always! .

Hallelujah!.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:7

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

Matthew 1:21

She will give birth to a son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

John 4:42

They said to the woman, "We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world."

John 11:27

"Yes, Lord," she answered, "I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Luke 2:11

Today in the City of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

God's Gift to You

Take time to today to reflect on what God has done for you in Christ Jesus...the richness of His Glorious Mystery, and the hope this gift offers to you.

Mediate on the complexity of God's perfect, divine plan...and how He lovingly and deliberately included you. That, long ago before the heavens and earth were created, He formed you in His mind and intricately planned your existence, identity, and eternal inheritance.

No matter what your circumstances are today, praise Him for what He has carefully constructed, revealed and promised to you...the greatest Gift ever unwrapped...The Mystery of Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah!

Romans 8:19

The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

John 1:12

But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God--

Colossians 1:26-27

the mystery that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints, to whom God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Ephesians 3:9

and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was hidden in God, who created all things.

Colossians 2:2

that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Galatians 3:26

You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

1 John 5:11

And this is that testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Abundant Life

Would it make any difference to you today if you received the truth that Jesus came that you may have life, and to also have it abundantly?  How much different would your life be if you understood that God has a specific, fruitful plan for you; one that is immeasurable by man?

God does have a distinct, predestined purpose for all of His precious children...both individually and collectively...and it is far beyond anything we can possibly conceive in our humanity.

Our unchanging, unwavering Provider has unlimited resources and He is exceedingly able to bless us far beyond our heart's desire...according to His power that is at work within us...today, tomorrow and forevermore!

All of the trials, temptations, fears, possessions, pain and worldly pleasures we attain or experience on Earth are temporary. But, a life that is sustained through The Holy Spirit is exceedingly abundant and eternal. Through His provision of truth, freedom, and grace...we should not just be alive, but experiencing our lives abundantly!

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:11

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will... 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.

Romans 16:25

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Eternal Perspective

A key factor in achieving peace in the midst of adversity is maintaining our eternal perspective. This strengthens our resolve as we wait patiently on The Lord. We focus on our Lifeboat, Who provides a refuge of still waters, regardless of the surrounding stormy seas.

Eternal perspective is gained through prayer and intimate fellowship with The Father, help from The Holy Spirit, saturation in the scripture, and by consciously removing our gaze from the worldly temptations Satan surrounds us with..

Eternal perspective lends a Godly view...the REAL big picture...and assists us in overcoming temptations and weathering storms, while maintaining perfect peace of mind.

When we look through the Christ lens, we experience love and grace, and we extend the same to others. We have everlasting peace, because we understand we were carefully crafted with purpose; that God intends for us to live an abundant, fruitful life, not one constantly tainted with misery, regret and uncertainty. As our faith is strengthened in the presence of our Savior, we glean more of Who our God really is and we gain a more personalized understanding of His design for us.

Our eternal perspective is founded in God's truth and is steeped in His cherished promises. We are enabled to make each day count for our King, because we have our eyes on the prize. So, at the end of an enormously tough day or season, we know with all that we are, it is virtually non-existent when compared to the reward of an eternity with Jesus.

Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

John 14:2

In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Thirst for Righteousness -

Hunger and thirst are powerful motivators, prompting us to spring into action to satisfy these needs - to indeed “fill” the emptiness with something - anything to ease the pain. In fact, much of our lives are spent working and planning to ensure that these needs are met to the best of our ability.

But, what if instead we trust The LORD our God to satisfy our needs - specifically, our spiritual need for righteousness? While in the wilderness fasting for forty days and nights (as per Divine instruction), Jesus was tempted by the enemy to fill His need outside of the will of God - to use His power to feed Himself - to satisfy His own personal gratification. Jesus responded by saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” (Luke 4:4) -

Jesus chose to depend only on God. And through the perfection of His righteousness, we now may choose Truth and be satisfied in our own hunger and thirst - filled with the indwelling of The Holy Spirit - redeemed, sanctified, and transformed into the fullness of God!

Praise The LORD for the righteousness made available to us through His Son! Praise The LORD for His Promise to fill us when we seek the Eternal Manna of Jesus Christ! Praise The LORD that He promises to satisfy our every need when we place our faith and trust in Him alone!

LORD God, You are faithful and have promised that when we search for You with all of our heart, You will open the door to Eternity and we will find You. We receive this promise and invite You, precious Jesus, to fill our hearts with Your Glory. You are our righteousness, redemption, and rest...and Your Truth is the lamp to our feet. Fill us, Father, with the Eternal Well of Salvation - Jehovah Saves - that we may never hunger or thirst for all the days of our lives. We place our faith and trust in You alone to fill every void and need. In The Name of Jesus we pray these things...Amen.

Jeremiah 29:13

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Matthew 7:8

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Emotional Healing

Suppressed negative emotions take root early in life and accumulate and are buried over time but don’t go away. They manifest in all sorts unhealthy thinking and behaviors.  This is an opportune time for Satan to set up strongholds in our minds. A stronghold is a way of thinking that holds us bondage in our minds, and it strangles the abundant life of a believer.  Over time, each negative emotionally hurtful event in our lives can add another layer of woodenness and unless it is brought to the light can rob us of our joy and peace in our walk with the Lord and affect our emotional health and well-being.

The first step to achieving emotional healing is being honest and recognizing that rather than blaming others and staying a victim, we need to take accountability for how we have been dealing with past hurts.

“Jesus says if you abide in my word you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and truth will set you free”….”So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:32,33)

How can we experience this freedom if we are still carrying around a backpack full of emotional hurts and pain? In order to know this freedom, we need to acknowledge that we have not dealt with these buried emotions and need them brought to the surface so our Lord Jesus can sever them at the root.

Then and only then can God take us from a broken, hurting, anxious individual and restore us so that we can finally experience the peace and joy that the Lord desires us to have in our walk with Him.

“He reveals the deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with Him.”

(Daniel 2:22 Amplified Bible)

Prayer for Emotional Healing & Strength

Oh Lord, I feel that both my heart and my life has been shattered into a thousand pieces and I don’t know what to do or which way to turn. I feel that I have no strength left and that everything in my life has become an utter failure. Have mercy on me I pray, according to Your great goodness and abundant grace.

Lord, I know that Your Word says that You will give strength to the weary and hope to the distressed and I feel both weak and in distress, and ask for Your help and strength.

Help me to wait on You, abide in You and rest in Your love, because I know that You have promised that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength and rise up with the wings as eagles.

Thank You also, that You have promised to heal the broken-hearted and restore those that are hurting. Heal my shattered heart I pray, and restore to me the joy of my salvation. This I ask in Jesus' name,

In Jesus name, Amen.

I Will Not Leave You Orphans

 .

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for the promise of Your refuge and the covering of Your comfort...for the promise of Your balm on the broken hearted and crushed in spirit.

Lord, we claim the victory that we are never alone, never orphans...that You have prepared a way for us to dwell with You eternally...and we pray for Your guidance and protection in our temporary dwelling place.

Lord, we praise You that You are always near, and we call upon You in truth for healing in our hearts...in our homes...in our communities...in our world.

Lead us by still waters and bless us with strength and endurance; keep us on Your ordained and anointed path of light and love...and we praise You that because of Your plan, we have purpose!

Jesus, we need You every minute of every day! We pray for Your Kingdom...for You to remove all sorrow and wipe the tears from our eyes...for the day when every knee bows to You, Almighty Father God! For You are worthy!

Thank You, Lord, for deliverance and for making Your home in our hearts. Cleanse and purify us, according to Your will.

In The Name of Jesus Christ, our precious Savior, we praise You and pray these things,

Amen.

Psalm 34:18

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 145:18

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 73:28

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.

James 4:8(a)

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

Romans 14:11

It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God." 

Revelations 21:4

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.

Staying Calm in the Storm

A key factor in achieving peace in the midst of adversity is maintaining our eternal perspective. This strengthens our resolve as we wait patiently on The Lord. We focus on our Lifeboat, Who provides a refuge of still waters, regardless of the surrounding stormy seas.

Eternal perspective is gained through prayer and intimate fellowship with The Father, help from The Holy Spirit, saturation in the scripture, and by consciously removing our gaze from the worldly temptations Satan surrounds us with.

Eternal perspective lends a Godly view...the REAL big picture...and assists us in overcoming temptations and weathering storms, while maintaining perfect peace of mind.

When we look through the Christ lens, we experience love and grace, and we extend the same to others. We have everlasting peace, because we understand we were carefully crafted with purpose; that God intends for us to live an abundant, fruitful life, not one constantly tainted with misery, regret and uncertainty. As our faith is strengthened in the presence of our Savior, we glean more of Who our God really is and we gain a more personalized understanding of His design for us.

Our eternal perspective is founded in God's truth and is steeped in His cherished promises. We are enabled to make each day count for our King, because we have our eyes on the prize. So, at the end of an enormously tough day or season, we know with all that we are, it is virtually non-existent when compared to the reward of an eternity with Jesus.

Colossians 3:2

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Philippians 3:14

I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God's heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

John 16:33

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.

John 14:2

In My Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

Loneliness

Christmas is a time of good cheer, excitement,  expectancy, warmth, busyness and feelings of joy surrounded by family and friends. But for some, it can be a time of extreme loneliness.  Loneliness can be described as a feeling of emptiness in the pit of your stomach when someone you love has left you either through death or broken relationships. You may feel abandoned, unwanted, or unneeded as if you’re all by yourself when you are actually surrounded by all kinds of people. You may feel like no one really cares.

These feeling can intensify if you begin to believe that your loneliness is a result of something being wrong at a core level with you – that you are somehow unacceptable, unworthy, don’t measure up, or unlovable.

When this happens, you may feel hopeless and have nothing to live for. Your pain can erode your self-worth, and drain you of strength.  Loneliness puts a huge wall around your heart and prevents you from allowing others in including God.

When you feel as if the entire world has abandoned you, and that no one understands your pain and sorrow God’s Word promises that the Lord is with you and He will never leave you.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

In your loneliness and despair, have you distanced yourself from the Lord?

It is never too late to draw near to Him again. You are His precious child. And when you return to Him, you will be welcomed with open arms. You will have heartfelt joy when returning home to the shelter of God’s unconditional love and acceptance. You are never alone!

Abundant Life

Would it make any difference to you today if you received the truth that Jesus came that you may have life, and to also have it abundantly?  How much different would your life be if you understood that God has a specific, fruitful plan for you; one that is immeasurable by man?

God does have a distinct, predestined purpose for all of His precious children...both individually and collectively...and it is far beyond anything we can possibly conceive in our humanity.

Our unchanging, unwavering Provider has unlimited resources and He is exceedingly able to bless us far beyond our heart's desire...according to His power that is at work within us...today, tomorrow and forevermore!

All of the trials, temptations, fears, possessions, pain and worldly pleasures we attain or experience on Earth are temporary. But, a life that is sustained through The Holy Spirit is exceedingly abundant and eternal. Through His provision of truth, freedom, and grace...we should not just be alive, but experiencing our lives abundantly!

Ephesians 3:20

Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:11

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will... 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.

Romans 16:25

Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past,

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Burden Bearer

Run to and rest in the open, eternal arms of our loving Father. Release all your burdens to Him and take His yoke instead.

Resign yourself to the will of God and seek His Holy counsel. He will sustain you and uphold you with His righteous hand.

Be still in His loving care while He refreshes you with Living Waters...as you find rest and repose for your weary soul.

Psalm 55:2

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Isaiah 28:12

to whom he said, 'This is the resting place, let the weary rest,' and, 'This is the place of repose...'

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Mathew 11:29-30

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayers reflect the very essence of God's own character...rich in unconditional love, grace and mercy.

Praying for others enables us to look beyond ourselves and increases our empathy, concern and compassion for others.

Think about this...who do you want to spend eternity with? Are there people you care about who do not know Jesus? Are you praying for them...interceding without ceasing?

Then, consider this...love and pray for your enemies. This is truly putting on the compassion of Christ and going beyond yourself in interceding for them.

Remember, prayer is sweet smelling aroma that pleases Him (Revelation 5:8). The Father desires our prayers! Prayer strengthens our faith and increases our intimacy with Him! In it, we are reflecting and glorifying Jesus!

Let us pray with sincere hearts and without ceasing on behalf of God's hurting children...that they will have a heart change and receive Jesus...that they will share in our eternal inheritance...and experience the riches, hope, glory and everlasting grace freely given by our Abba Father!

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)