My child, I come to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. To comfort those who mourn and give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. Trust Me to bring this situation about for good. Lean not on your own understanding, your life is in the hands of the Maker of heaven.
Isaiah 61:1-3 Proverbs 3:5
My child, give generously, love lavishly, and have a thankful heart. I delight in you and I desire that you delight in Me. Open your heart to all that I have for you. Even the hard things can produce much fruit. Never despise your trials. They are there for your growth and to draw you closer to Me. Depend on Me for all things. I delight in you.
We see in Scripture conflicting opinions about what causes sin, and therefore its remedy. The Jews—the Scribes and Pharisees in particular—viewed sin as being a product of a person’s outward behavior. So they attempted to manage it through a form of law which evolved over time into a system of commandments even stricter than those found in the Law of Moses.
Jesus, on the other hand, knew that sin is primarily a matter of the heart, saying in Matthew 15:19: “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.”
Since most of the sins just listed are acted out by our behavior, it’s not too hard to see them simply as a response by our flesh to some outside stimulus received through our natural senses. In other words: “I wanted it, so I did it!” But in reality, sin manifesting itself through the actions of our body is a symptom of a much more serious disease within.
Sin is a barometer of the heart—a very clear indicator of what is residing within self. Sin is more than just actions; it is rooted in our attitudes, intentions and motives. Given this fact, I find it disturbing (though not surprising) that it’s so common among Christians to ignore the significance of these inner motivations.
My child, I reveal Myself to all who seek Me, and I desire that none should perish. But they must seek Me with their whole heart. I long to save and deliver, but I will not force anyone. They must come to Me in faith, believing that I alone can deliver them from their sinful ways. I continually knock at their hearts door. O that they would answer. My love for them is greater than you know, but the choice is up to them.
2 Peter 3:9
O taste and see that I am good. Those who seek Me shall not be in want of any good thing. I hear your cry and deliver you out of all your troubles. I am near to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. I redeem the soul of My servants and none of these who take refuge in Me will be condemned.
Psalm 34
My child, when the world and it’s philosophies tempt you to go in the wrong direction, get your eyes back on Me. Get into My Word and soak in My Presence. I will fill you with wisdom and peace. I will give you truth that will set you free. I will reveal Myself in a way that you’ll know the difference between right and wrong thinking. you only need to come to Me when confusion or temptations arise.
John 8:32
My child, I want so much for you to believe Me – Really believe that I am who I say I am and that I will do what I say I will do. Never doubt Me. Your faith will grow as you make the choice to believe instead of doubt. I desire that ‘choice to believe’ become automatic and doubt becomes non-existent. Then you’ll experience the wonder working Power of My Holy Spirit on a continual basis. Don’t limit what I can do because of your unbelief. Choose faith.
My child, look not at what this world can doe for you, or what you can do for this world. Look only at what I can do through you to affect the lost and hurting in this world. I alone transform hearts. I alone provide love, joy, peace, strength, endurance and kindness. You can’t obtain these from the world and it’s systems. You can only receive them from Me. Look only to Me, the author and finisher of your faith.
“But the Lord is with me like a dread Champion. Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail, because they have failed, with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten. Yet, O lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, Who see the mind and the heart; let me see Your vengeance on them; For to You I have set forth my cause. Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For He has delivered the soul of the needy one from the hand of evildoers!”
Jeremiah 20 11-13
My child, you are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed. You have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from Me and not from yourself. I am at work in you. I am life.
2 Corinthians 4:7-12