Don’t let life, people, past failure or your present condition keep you from the seed of a dream in your heart. It doesn’t matter how bad your past is. You might say your sins are as dark as mud, but even a glass of mud will be drinkable if you keep pouring clean, fresh water into it!
What can you do when you find yourself disconnected with yourself, your dreams, your past, and your family? There is always a way back! You have been left with a letter from heaven; a voice from a place that is unchanging, a book of ideas that are confirmed to all who choose to believe them. Locate yourself in the Bible and preach it to yourself!
With an attitude of gratitude, we can soar to the heights where new hope, new strength and new life are found. Today, let’s celebrate and be thankful for the SIMPLE things of life no matter how insignificant they may seem!
Jesus demonstrated that He will be in the midst of any pit you find yourself in when He went ahead of you to the lowest pit of all. He went to hell with your worst problem, the sin which separated you from God. If you’re born again He lives in you now, so there’s no valley too deep, no pit too dark, or storm too strong, where you won’t find Jesus there with you ready to deliver you!
Jehovah Shalom means “The Lord is our peace.” This word shalom literally has the essence of nothing broken, everything fixed, everything being repaired. Shalom is total restoration and total peace for all that we need. This is God extending Himself to humanity saying, “I love you!”
Even after you have chosen to forgive, memories of wrongs suffered and the associated negative feelings will still try to rise up. But hold on to forgiveness! Remind yourself that you made a decision to forgive!
There is a very real God whose presence you can know, whose hand you can hold, who will speak with you and His voice will not be somewhere in the distance, but rather IN you. He loves you and wants to live with you and through you!
The sacrifice of the holy blood of Jesus that covered the sins of all people is enough! Scripture says that now anyone can come to the throne of grace with boldness because we were all covered with the blood of Jesus, and the keys of the kingdom were given to each one of us!
Scripture says we are to “love others as we love ourselves” (Mark 12:33, author’s paraphrase). Maybe the reason there is so much harsh treatment of others is that people hate themselves. They don’t see themselves as good enough or worthy enough, and they project the same attitude toward those around them!
If you are all that is on your mind, then your thinking is very small! When you place your hurts in the hands of Jesus, then you’re free to heal the hurts of others. What He has done for you is now your privilege to do for others.
