Y’all, I am so overwhelmed at the moment—thankful for a God who is so patient with me.
So patient that He will continue to provide reminders of His love for me, that He will continue to show me His truths over and over again until I finally begin to grasp them, that he never stops pursuing me.
“I will seek that which was lost and bring back that which has strayed, and I will bandage the hurt and the crippled and will strengthen the weak and the sick.” ~Ezekiel 34:16a, AMPC
So patient that He will not give up on me even when I am struggling with my flesh, that He never leaves me or forsakes me even when I doubt His presence in my life.
“For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!].” ~Hebrews 13:5b, AMPC
I’m so thankful that not only did He save me, but He has changed me; that I am not the same person I was, that He has loved me enough to pursue me even in my depravity. I’m thankful that I can trust that He’s at work on me even when I don’t always see it.
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” ~Philippians 1:6, AMPC
Thankful that after He saved me, He didn’t leave me hanging, expecting me to do something impossible on my own, but that He’s given me His Holy Spirit to lead me, guide me, strengthen me, and empower me to live the way He’s called me to live, to live in a way that points to Him.
“But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in my name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.” ~John 14:26, AMPC
I’m thankful for Truth—the Truth of His Word that gives me something to stand on, that gives me hope to hold on to.
“. . . If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” ~John 8:31-32, AMPC
I’m thankful that He chooses to use me in spite of my flaws. Thankful that He reaches people through me even though I may not always see it or know it when it happens. Thankful that this blog is one of the ways He’s called me to show and demonstrate who He is, to tell of Him, to tell of my story that is really His, my story that starts with His, my story that is only here because of His story. That’s my prayer for this blog—for it to be His voice through me, His voice through the guest posts we have, speaking to those who need to hear Him in that moment, in that way, in that portion of that person’s story.
“I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in Him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.” ~John 15:5, AMPC
The truth is we were put here for a purpose—to worship Him and bring glory to His name. The question, then, is how we do that? By offering up ourselves and our lives to Him daily, moment by moment, to be used according to His plan.
“I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.” ~Romans 12:1, AMPC
He has plans to use each one of His children to bring glory to His name. We find ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction when we turn our eyes on our Creator and live in relationship with Him, honoring Him by knowing Him, loving Him, and having the gift of Him working in and through us.
“Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)” ~Psalm 150:6, AMPC
“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and the dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created.” ~Revelation 4:11, AMPC
He is the reason we are here. We live for Him.
“For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, for we are also His offspring.” ~Acts 17:28, AMPC
All that He has called us to do, He wants to do through us. The pressure is not on us, but on Him.
“[Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.]” ~Philippians 2:13, AMPC
We belong to Him. This life is about Him. And when I remember that and live like that, I have so much of a deeper contentment, satisfaction, and joy than when I am living my daily life for me, for my flesh, and for the things of this world. There’s freedom and peace beyond understanding when we live His way—and His way is not us trying to fulfill a set of rules on our own, but is us living in a vibrant, thriving daily relationship with Him, focused on loving Him and worshipping Him in all that we do. Life is not about us and there is huge freedom in that. I can’t fully explain it, but it is so. It’s a beautiful side effect of loving Him, surrendering all to Him, and walking daily with Him as our focus.
So, what’s your story? Where are you at in this journey? Do you know Him as your Savior yet? Even if you don’t call Him such yet, He’s working on you, drawing you to Himself. He’s your Creator and He loves you. He has plans for you, plans that are more fulfilling and satisfying to your spirit than anything this world can offer. If you’d like to know more, there are some verses at the bottom of this post that can help you understand His plan of redemption for you. If you have questions, feel free to comment and ask or message me on Twitter or Instagram if you’d rather, and I will do my best to answer them.
If you already call Him Savior, how has He been at work in your life? What’s His story at work in you?
Hope Dweller Stories Update: I’m excited to finally be able to say that our first Hope Dweller Story is scheduled for Friday, March 29th! I hope you’ll join me in welcoming our first guest poster then and hearing the portion of her story God has called her to share with us!
God’s Beautiful Plan of Salvation and Redemption:
Romans 1:20-21, AMPC
For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification], Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.
Romans 3:23, AMPC
Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.
Romans 5:8, AMPC
But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.
Romans 6:23, AMPC
For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:9-10, AMPC
Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, relies on Christ) and is so justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
Romans 10:13, AMPC
For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.
Romans 11:36, AMPC
For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in Him.] To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it).
Redeemed Hope Dweller 