Living In the Power, Purpose, and Presence of Jesus
I was hurting really badly. Something had been done to me that was devastating, and my heart was broken and bleeding.
I was so discouraged; trying to stand in faith, but all the standing I could do was to survive another day. Each morning, I would say, “Abba Father, I know that You’ll take care of me. I trust You, Lord … but I’m dying. Please, please help me.” [Read more…]
Dear friend who has been slapped in the face by life,
I know how you feel.
At various times in my life, I have known what it’s like to hurt so badly you can barely breathe. I know what it’s like to try to keep your mask on while you’re on the elevator so you don’t humiliate yourself, but then you sob uncontrollably as soon as you get to your desk.
I know what it’s like to be unable to sleep, so you go to a different room and lay on the floor and curl up in a ball and wail and keen to the Lord because words will not come.
I know the pain of betrayal, the pain of feeling alone, the pain of injustice. I know what it’s like to feel helpless. [Read more…]
Have you been struggling with financial lack, beloved? If so, I have an encouraging word for you today.
The Lord just woke me up with this word. Here is what He told me to tell you:
Don’t worry, though; I am teaching you. My name is Teacher, and I can renew your mind if you cooperate with me.
Precious son, beloved daughter, it is my will for you to govern on the earth. This must happen in order for the Kingdom of Heaven to be manifest in every sphere of society. And in order for you to govern, I need you to submit to My wealth.
Yes, darling child: My wealth is a work of grace, just like forgiveness of sins is a work of grace. Receive it, knowing you don’t deserve it. Deserving anything was never a part of the equation. Deserving anything has never been a part of the equation.
So submit to my work of grace. Ask, and you shall receive. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you. For EVERYONE who asks receives, and EVERY CHILD who seeks finds, and every door that is knocked upon shall be opened for my children of grace and love (Matthew 7:7-8).
The buffet of My grace and love is open to you. Put a demand on My grace. It is this grace that opens My Kingdom of plenty to you.
Take your worthiness out of the equation, precious child. Allow Me to manifest My own government through you. Let Me use you as a vessel for My plenty, to release My goodness and My praise upon the earth.
You are My chosen vessel. In Me, and in Me alone, you live and move and have your being. Allow Me to manifest the fullness of who I am through you … and Who I Am is Plenty. Who I Am is Abundant. Who I Am is Sovereign.
It matters not what you deserve. All that matters is that you are in Me, and I Am in you.”
Does this word resonate with you? Have you been limiting God and thinking that you don’t deserve plenty? If so, let’s renew our minds today, shall we?
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Dear reader who’s been crying,
I felt like the Lord wanted me to encourage you today. Because…
He saw you, the other day when you were so upset. Last night when you were crying. When you were hurt; when you were angry. He saw you. And He has not forgotten.
He knows what it’s like. He knows what it’s like to feel despised and rejected. He knows what it means to not have a single friend in the world. He knows what is hurting your heart right now.
And He cares.
You see, this thing that is happening to you is not God’s best for you. It’s not His will for you to mourn or grieve or be sad. It’s not His will for you to hurt, physically, emotionally, or mentally. He loves you, and He’s a good Father. He desires only the best for you in all things. [Read more…]
Do you feel unsafe, exposed to the world, unprotected, and in need of comfort today? If so, I have an encouraging word for you.
Some time ago, during my quiet time alone with God, the Holy Spirit gave me a mental picture (a vision) of what it looks like to be hidden under the shadow of God’s wings.
This mental picture encouraged me so much. Many times, I have gone back to that picture in my mind and just meditated on it. It’s beautiful, and so I wanted to share this vision with you today. I believe it will encourage you, too, as you pray and ask God to stabilize your emotions.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust'” (Psalm 91:1-2).
and:
I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. I just wanted to hide.
Nothing was visibly going wrong. Everything seemed okay at work. Everything seemed okay in my friendships. And I wasn’t married yet, so I didn’t have any romantic relationships to worry about.
But I was moping around. Unmotivated, apathetic. I wanted to stay at home and hide all the time. If I had had access to one, I would have loved to have crawled into a cave and not come out.
I don’t remember how long this went on. All I remember is how disengaged from life I felt. [Read more…]
The Lord showed me this morning that, for many of you, things feel dark and hopeless. You have been going through a hard time, and you feel like you have had to claw your way through every day.
The thing is, this is not normal for you. It’s very unlike you, and you recognize it and don’t like it. But, things have been so difficult that it seems like even basic things–things like showering, eating, and getting out of bed–are a real accomplishment when they happen …
… and sometimes they don’t happen at all.
“You have been going through the hardest time of your life–at least, the hardest time you can remember. The enemy has been telling you that you are depressed, and you’ve been severely tempted to believe it.
The thing is, you are not depressed–and you recognize that too. You are only stressed, but you’ve been confused because the enemy has been telling you that you are hopeless and depressed.
Here’s the key to getting out of it:
Both this truth AND this confession are the key to overcoming what the enemy is trying to do to you in this hour.
Are you overwhelmed right now? Do you feel like you can’t handle life?If so, I have an encouraging word for you today!
I’ve been feeling very overwhelmed right now. I’ve spent plenty of time stressing about it, worrying about it (sin, I know), and even crying about it. Things have been tough.
But you know what? Papa God is teaching me big-time during this season. I have a lot to learn about pretty much everything right now, and He’s showing me how to get through some things that feel impossible–with His grace making them possible.
Basically, He’s teaching me how to live. Again.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who is feeling overwhelmed. So, I believe the practical things the Lord is showing me will be helpful to you too. More importantly, however, is the fact that God moves seasonally across His Body. So whatever He is doing in my life, He’s likely doing in your life too.
If we really get the fact that we’re all in this together, it will encourage us all because it shows us that the struggle isn’t for naught. Papa has a plan, and He has a purpose, and He’s moving us ALL into that plan and purpose.
So if you’re ready to move on with Papa’s plan like I am, here are the 5 keys He showed me for all of us who are feeling overwhelmed and/or can’t handle life right now: [Read more…]
My son wouldn’t stop crying this morning. He’s just over three months old, and he’s going through a developmental leap right now. Leaps make babies extra-fussy, and he was sure demonstrating that today.
At first, I wore him in my baby wrap; usually the closeness of being snuggled up to my chest calms him down after a few minutes. But today, it didn’t work. Then I changed his diaper, just in case. Didn’t help. I tried feeding him, but he wouldn’t eat. He still cried and fussed.
So I walked him around the house; that usually helps too, because he can feel the movement and (I’m told) it reminds him of the womb.
No go, though. Still crying and crying and fussing.
He kept crying, sometimes at the top of his lungs. All the while, I was holding him tight to my chest and nuzzling his head. He was swaddled and warm and all of his needs were met. He was safe as can be.
But he kept crying.
Finally, after a long time of crying, I grabbed my phone and turned on my favorite song: “Good, Good Father” by Housefires. This song means the world to me, and I played it a lot while I carried Elijah in the womb. So he heard it a lot.
The guitar intro came on, and he didn’t stop crying. The vocals began, and I sang along, and at first he still cried.
But gradually, as the words “You’re a good, good Father … It’s who You are … It’s who You are … It’s who You are … and I’m loved by You … It’s who I am … It’s who I am … It’s who I am … You’re a good, good Father …” sounded in the room, a miracle happened.
Within a few moments, it stopped together.
Within a minute or two after that, Elijah was sound asleep.
And I got a revelation.
The whole time my son was crying, he was in my arms. all his needs were met in spades. I love him with all my heart and was making sure he wasn’t cold, hungry, wet, or anything else.
But he didn’t receive my comfort at first. Not until I played him the song about his good, good Father–a song about how Daddy’s got him, and how He’s perfect in all of His ways, and he’s loved by his Father–was he comforted.
At least, I know I am, so often.
When I get sad or upset about something, I’m fussy. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I won’t stop crying. And all the while, Father’s got me. He has already made sure I’m warm, fed, dry, and in need of nothing.
But still I fuss. I fuss even while my good, good Father holds me tight to His chest with both arms, face nuzzling mine, taking care of me with His big, strong love.
But not until I get a revelation that He’s a good, good Father, and that’s who He is; and I’m loved by Him, and that’s who I am, am I comforted.
Not until I truly understand, yet again, that He’s got me and He’s perfect in all of His ways–so He’s got this, and it will be okay–do I stop fussing.
I’m just like my son in that respect.
Aren’t you?
He’s got both of His big, strong arms wrapped around you. He’s already wrapped you in a blanket and keeping you so you can’t get out. He knows that the safety and security of His arms is what you need. He’s fed you; even though you’ll be hungry again in the future–at which time He’ll provide again–RIGHT NOW you have everything you need.
And your good, good Father is holding you in His arms, rocking you back and forth, and saying: “Don’t cry. I’ve got you.”
He’s got you.
You’re safe.
And you’re loved.
You have nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about. Just like I could see my son’s needs and I made sure they were all met, Father sees all of YOUR needs–even more than we mothers ever could–and He’s got them all taken care of.
All that’s left for you is to receive His love, trust Him, and rest on His chest.
He’s a good, good Father. He’s perfect in all of His ways. Anything He has allowed, He’s working out for your good. Anything you need, He has already provided. All of your cries are heard–
–but not heard from far away.
Your cries are heard in His ears that are right above yours, because you’re nestled right under His chin and He’s kissing your head right now.
“Don’t cry. I’ve got you,” Father says.
“Don’t cry. Shhhhhhh. Shh shh shh shh shh. I’ve got you. Muah muah muah muah (insert Father’s kisses on your soft, downy hair here). Shhh. Everything is all right.”
“I’ve got you.”
And He does!
Your good, good Father loves you with an everlasting love. With great mercies He has borne you. He has carried you all the days of your life. He’s carrying you in His arms right now, and He’ll continue to do so. He’s never going to set you down, not ever.
Father’s got you. His big, strong arms are wrapped around you and He’s holding you tight to His chest …
… And you are loved.
Listen to Housefires sing “Good, Good Father” today (video below), and meditate on your Papa’s love. He’s got you. Don’t cry. You’re safe, and you’re going to be all right.
Does this word minister to your heart today? If so, please leave a comment below. I love to hear from you!
Have you ever felt like you’re just surviving? Just barely making it through?
I’ve felt that way many times. And, I have wondered: When I’m just surviving, is God still paying attention to me? If I don’t feel much excitement, and I’m tired, discouraged, or depressed, does God get angry at me for feeling that way?
After all, I have had my share of those times. I’m much more stable now than I used to be, but I still have moments where I just want to throw in the towel. On everything.
Do you ever feel like that?
And if so, do you feel like God must shake His head, roll His eyes, and look elsewhere until you pull yourself together again?
That’s the treatment I used to feel like I deserved from God. And every time I have struggled with discouragement or depression, I have known that those feelings weren’t God’s plan for me. But there have been times when I haven’t had the courage to fight anymore. [Read more…]