Scripture tells us in the book of Hebrews that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What does that mean for you? That means that if two thousand years ago He healed, He forgave sin, He died for one person—then throughout all of time and eternity this same Jesus died for you, forgave you, loves you, lives to give you life, and came back from the dead so you could experience all that He has for you.

We know that the blood of the father flows in the veins of the child, so the blood that flowed in the veins of our Messiah, Jesus, was holy blood—the blood of our Father. Jesus died on the cross, but it was God’s intent, God’s will, God’s purpose, God’s life, and God’s hope that flowed through His body. He desired for you and me to be set free!

In 1 Peter chapter 5 the devil is called the adversary and is compared to a roaring lion. The devil threatens, the devil growls, and the devil scares you, but he has no power—only his attempt to threaten you in your world.

Do you realize that Satan has no power? The only power he has is that which we relinquish to him when we believe the word of the deceiver over the Word of the living God.

The Bible tells us the very hairs on our head are numbered (Luke 12:7). Why? Because every detail of your life matters to God. He reveals Himself to you personally and intimately because He loves you and died just for you!

The pinnacle of God’s heart, the pinnacle of God’s desire, and the pinnacle of God’s love is not that He could be the authoritarian ruler of the universe. We have to get over that concept, because it wasn’t out of an authoritarian desire to create that God placed male and female in His garden. He was already omniscient, He was already omnipotent, He was already almighty God. Rather, it was His love for you and me that caused Him to begin the creation story!

Only humanity was created in the image of God. Only humanity was given the right and the ability and the authority to walk with the living God, to speak words as He spoke, to create as He created, to live as He lived, and to fellowship as He fellowshipped.

When you call on the name of Jesus and open up your heart to receive Him, He moves into your life in His entire presence and His entire being.  You become just like it was in the garden in the beginning: a spirit being in a flesh body, in contact with the living God.

When you are born of God and carry His Spirit in you, you consider things with an eternal viewpoint. You value things that others might consider foolish. Celebrate your difference!

God has given us simple tools to help us construct a beautiful garden of peace and tranquility in the midst of life’s storms. Yet, I would have to ask the question: Have we opened the toolbox to discover what is available to each one of us?