Talk to God

Talking to God won't change Him, but it will change you.  Having a conversation with God can bring encouragement, strength, wisdom, comfort, and an overwhelming peace that only comes through talking with your heavenly Father.  Talk to Him today.  Tell Him everything you've been afraid to tell Him.  He will hear you.

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:12-13

Courage to Obey

There are times when we know what we're being called to do, but are so afraid that we second guess ourselves. We are afraid of rejection, of embarrassment, or of being uncomfortable. It takes courage to obey. Sometimes it's making the decision to walk in obedience to God even when all of our human being is shaking from fear. Sometimes that step of faith needed is a step of obedience.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” --Joshua 1:9

"Jesus replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." --Luke 11:28

For Good

We make one bad choice that leads to another, that leads to another, that leads to another, and then we feel lost and so far away from God. It's in those moments that He's there loving us through it and waiting for us to look up. The courage is not in how much we struggle on our own but the courage is in how we completely surrender to Him. 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 ESV)

Hold My Heart

Don't you think your heart is important to the One who formed you? Take it all to Him, the good, the bad, the not-so-pretty. God cares for you. He cares for your heart. Whatever is weighing your heart down, no matter if it seems insignificant or petty, take it to Him anyway. He can handle.  Let the One who formed your heart, hold your heart.

"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well." --Psalms 139:13-14

Grace Abounds

Living for God isn't about being a good person or about keeping all the rules, because the truth is that we can never be good enough, we can never play by all the rules. We need a help, we need grace, we need freedom, we need forgiveness, we need hope, we need the love of a Savior.

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." --Romans 5:20, 21 NLT

Not perfect, but deeply loved

Striving towards knowing God more deeply and intimately doesn't mean that you and your life will be perfect. You will always have struggles. You will always mess up.  You are human. In knowing God more, you'll learn more and more about how messed up you are but at the same time how deeply love and accepted you are. Live in the grace, forgiveness, and freedom of that love. 

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to..." (James 4:8 ESV)

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us..." (Ephesians 5:1, 2 ESV)

New

We fail daily.  We need God daily.  We need His forgiveness, His grace, His peace, His love.  We can't live this life on our own.  Each day, each hour, each minute is an opportunity to make things new.  Just because something has always been that way, doesn't mean it has to stay that way.  You're never stuck.  Life can be different.  Life can be new.  

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” -Revelation 21:5