Lifeline

Friends, before you start reading, I’d like to pray over you. Is that ok? 

Heavenly Father, thank you for who you are. Thank you for the son and daughter who is reading this. In Jesus name, I bless them with knowing how much you love them, with feeling the joy of your presence, with healing and hope and peace. I bless them with hearing your voice and walking in the confident hope and peace that they are loved and known by you, more deeply and fully, than they could ever imagineove. In your son’s mighty name I pray, Amen.

Friends, I pray you are well. I pray your life is in a season of joy. I have to be honest. For nearly all those I know, it’s been a really tough season. We had all hoped it would get lighter and easier with the new year, and yet the opposite seems to be true. My friends who don’t believe in Jesus? They’re having a hard time. My friends who do believe in Jesus? They’re having a hard time. Knowing Jesus doesn’t mean your life will be easy. In fact, Jesus tells us with absolute certainty, we will have trouble. He couldn’t be more direct when he said it. “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) My kids and I talk about this all the time. If life is hard with Jesus, then what’s the point?  

My response to them, life is hard no matter what. Without Jesus, I don’t know that I’d still be standing. I really don’t. There’s no one who can take the shame of my mistakes, a bad day, my wrong choices, and make them right. Just yesterday as I was in the midst of my workday, I suddenly felt overcome with thoughts of how awful of a person I am. That I was letting others down, wasn’t doing enough. The thoughts seemed to come out of nowhere but there was such weight and sadness to them. Unworthy is the word that comes to mind. Needing truth and not wanting to sit in sadness, I went to Jesus. Before the word “Jesus…” had even come out of my mouth, I heard Jesus speak to my heart.

The Bible tells us “your Father knows what you need before you ask”. (Matthew 6:8). Jesus was waiting for me to come to him. He wanted me to know who I was in his eyes. How he sees me. His love over me. Nothing stops a lie from the enemy faster than the truth from Jesus. In my mind I know I’m not an awful person. The thing is, when the enemy attacks, negative thoughts can feel like your own and they can feel like truth. My mind was in a battle with my emotions, my emotions were winning, and I was hurting. Then came Jesus.

Friends, for as long as God gives me breath, I will continue to encourage you to press into your relationship and hear the voice of God. It will change every day of your life. There is nothing that compares to hearing God speak to you. When He speaks, lives change. Our thoughts change. The lies the enemy tries to speak get shut down. God is love. God is truth. He is for you. He wants to speak to you, to tell you how much he loves you. Whatever you are facing, whatever hurts you’ve experienced, friends, God will take it all. He will speak to you, take your wounds and heal you, free you. Bring you hope where you feel despair. Bring you truth where you may be hearing lies. Bring you freedom where you feel held captive. With Him, there is hope. There is love. There is freedom from shame and regret. There is certain hope every day. No matter how dark it is, there is a lifeline, a means of escape from whatever it is you’re facing. I encourage you to pause and reflect, what is your lifeline? What are you holding on to to get you through? Is what you’re trusting in freeing you from negative thoughts? Are there things from your past or present causing you fear or pain? What if you gave it all to Jesus? 

I encourage you to meet him in prayer, right now. A simple prayer you can pray:

Heavenly Father, you know every part of me, my thoughts, my heart, my worries, my fears. Will you show me what I’m carrying that you want me to give to you? What do you want me to know? 

I encourage you to write down what you hear. If you want to accept Jesus into your heart and life, I encourage you to click here, right now. Jesus wants to come into your life, take your pain, give you hope and peace. If you have questions, would like more resources on hearing the voice of God, or if I can be praying for you, simply email blog@calvarylg.com.

Blessing you with knowing how deeply loved you are and hearing our Father’s voice of love speak over you.