God’s love – Drawing Closer to Christ

God Sees Our Hearts

Earlier this year, I had the privilege of joining a church in a time of fasting and prayer, something many churches do at the start of a new year. Although a fast is challenging, it is also exciting to spend extra time with God in prayer and let His presence replace some of the daily foods I consume and activities that take up my time.

It’s also a time of anticipation, as I anticipate growing closer to the Lord, hearing His voice more clearly, and learning whatever He wants to teach me through His Word.

During my time of fasting and praying, God strongly impressed upon my heart how much He loves His church, the community of believers, who confess Jesus Christ, His Son, as Savior and Lord. He showed me how His heart breaks when our hearts drift away from Him.

He revealed that one of His greatest desires for those in the body of Christ, who have drifted away from Him, is for them to repent and return their hearts to Him. I could sense God’s urgency, so this caused me to examine my own heart and repent of the ways I have knowingly or unknowingly allowed my heart to drift away from Him.

Acts 3:19-20 NIV

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

Through this time of fasting and praying, God also impressed upon me that He desires to be our main Source for provision, protection, value and acceptance. Many have turned from Him and now search for these things in the world, but He is the supplier of our needs.

He is our Provider, our Protector, and the One who accepts us and loves us unconditionally. Our value does not come from worldly accomplishments. Our value does not come from the opinions of others. We are valuable because we are created in His image (Genesis 1:27).

The world offers us many options apart from God, but He is beckoning us to choose what is best, to choose Him, above all else. He loves us more than we even know and cares for us in ways we do not always understand.

God illuminated to me how far above this world His Kingdom is. His kingdom exceeds anything this world could ever offer us. Yet many times as His children, we get caught up in the temporary satisfaction this world has to offer.

Psalm 145:16-17 NIV

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.

We can return our hearts to God daily, through the time we spend with Him in prayer and His Word, and through the choices we make that show our love for Him and our allegiance to His kingdom.

One thing we can always be sure of, is that God always wants our hearts to be fully surrendered to Him. 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us that, “…People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

We can be confident that the God we serve sees our heart, which encourages us to come to Him about anything. We don’t have to hide, because God sees all, but still chooses to love us unconditionally.

How blessed we are to belong to Him and be part of His kingdom. May God continue to bless and keep you as you abide in Him daily.

John 15:4 NKJV

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

Happy Easter

The lyrics* to a song called, “Jesus Be Jesus in Me,” came to my mind recently…

Jesus, be Jesus in me
No longer me but Thee
Resurrection power
Fill me this hour
Jesus, be Jesus in me

I pray that the resurrection power of Jesus Christ would fill our hearts, as we reflect on the beautiful sacrifice He made when He gave His life for us. And then He rose again so we can know God the Father and live an abundant life.

Jesus said in John 10:10 ESV,“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

He also said in John 14:6 ESV,“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Thank you Jesus, for being the way!

Wishing you and your family a happy and blessed Easter! He is risen!

*Lyrics by: Eddie Carswell, Gary & Shawn Mcspadden

Photo by: Bruno van der Kraan of the Netherlands 🇳🇱

Continue On the Narrow Road to Life

Well, we’re a little more than half way through March already! And for about a week and a half, March ushered in some unusually warm weather here in Virginia, with temperatures ranging from 75-88. Although this premature spring weather did not last, it was a lovely reprieve, an unexpected but welcome blessing. But of course, I realize everyone does not feel the same because after returning from a sunny warm lunchtime walk, I expressed my excitement about the warm weather to a colleague in the hallway. My enthusiasm was quickly met with her disappointment. She said it was way too early for the cooler weather to be gone. Then, I remembered she spent many years in the midwest and favored cold weather. Even though I too spent many years in the midwest (Michigan), I still prefer warmer weather.

However, I knew she was right about it being too early to be so warm. But that didn’t stop me from taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather, to visit a nearby park, sit on a bench, drink a smoothie, watch the water, and enjoy the delightful sounds of children on the playground. It was refreshing. At some point during my visit to the park, my colleague crossed my mind. As I remembered our conversation, I chuckled.

It’s true, God made us all different and our preferences with the weather is just one small example of that. But another difference, one that has a much greater impact, is faith. Faith can vary from person to person. Even within the same faith, Christianity for example, we can find an array of different beliefs and perspectives. I think most of us could agree, that while some differences related to faith can be a good thing, because it encourages us to learn, grow, and love each other through the differences, there are times it causes much disunity and stress.

Walking by faith does not always produce quick answers, which is contrary to the society we live in that usually promotes an I want it now, rather than later culture. Developing faith takes time. Getting to know God takes time, a lifetime. But God does not change, we do. So that is why God’s Word is a priceless treasure. For in it, we can see His steadfast love and unchanging character. It teaches us how to navigate our ever changing world. Through its real life stories, we learn about God’s character, His faithfulness to love, heal, deliver, vindicate, discipline, and provide. And of course, through the Bible, we learn how to be like Jesus and walk in His way.

So why are we prone to wander from the truth, hope, and beauty of God’s word? I am sure that answer, like most things, can vary from person to person too, but perhaps in many cases, it is the allure of something better. A perceived better path or a quicker way to have our desires and needs met. Matthew 7:14 NLT, warns us that following Christ will not be easy, it says, “But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” So, not only is the road difficult, but it is only traveled by a few. And for those of us who have chosen the narrow difficult road, we know very well, it requires us to abide in Jesus continuously. Day by day, He is our daily bread. He is the One who directs our path and fills our hearts with joy as we travel the narrow road.

As I reflect on my journey, one thing I have found to be unwavering is the love of God. It has taken me many years to become more confident in His love for me and I am still learning what confidence in God is. But, when I allow myself to rest safely in His perfect love, I have all I need. There is no lack, whatsoever. The peace and contentment found in His love is not even dependent on circumstances or people. It just comes from having faith that God will be exactly who He promised to be in any and every situation.

As Christians, we have to choose Jesus and embrace His joy, which means we choose to let life’s difficulties (which includes circumstances and people) point us back to Him. After all, our lives should be about His glory and helping to expand His kingdom. And when He becomes the focus, the very center, life somehow seems more manageable, simpler and sweeter, even in the midst of the complexities and chaos. It is hard to explain, but in my experience, that is just the way it is.

His love is a place of refuge, like nothing I have ever experienced before. I pray that you too would be kept safely in His love and care and run to Him for refuge.

Psalm 46:1 NLT

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 62:8 NKJV

Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

Hebrews 10:38 NLT

And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

Scripture & Prayer: God is our Source, James 1:17

James 1:17 NIV, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Father,

I honor You today and thank you for being who You are. You are my Source, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. You do not change, You remain the same through every season of life I encounter.

I am thankful to you for working out the details of my life, even when there are detours, interruptions, or some type of mistreatment by others, You are still in control. You protect me, care for me, and comfort me.

Father, I praise You. You are the God who never forgets me. You always see me, hear me and love me.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have a blessed week! And remember life and people change, but God is always with you. His love remains the same.

Every good and perfect gift is from above

Choose Jesus, Embrace Joy

Happy New Year! I pray the first few weeks of the year have been going well for you. I know we all have various things going on in our lives and that there is much craziness going on in the world around us.

But there is peace in knowing that the Lord loves us very much, and the fact that He has allowed us to see another year shows that He still sees us, hears us, and has work for us to do.

Even though life gets tough at times, God is our refuge and strength. He steadies our steps, keeps our paths straight (calls us back if we veer off) and keeps our hearts secure through the journey. Knowing He is with us and for us, gives us the hope we need to keep moving forward.

For the last four years, I’ve prayed about and chosen a word or phrase of the year (thanks Bridget for the suggestion). Doing so helps me to focus on a specific area where God wants to grow my faith.

This year my phrase is, “Choose Jesus, Embrace Joy.” And Psalm 16:11 is one of my focus verses. The verse is a reminder that in God’s presence, there is fullness of joy. Abiding in the presence of God, keeps our joy full.

Psalm 16:11 NKJV

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

I am looking forward to continuing to learn what it means to choose Jesus daily and embrace joy as I abide in God’s presence. I know it won’t always be easy but I trust that God will always be with me, and that His love will keep me.

Have you prayed about and chosen a word or phrase for this year? If so, feel free to share it in the comments.

I pray you would rest in Jesus and find all you need in His love as you go throughout this new year.

Blessings and Happy 2026!

In His Love by Sandi Patty

Receive Jesus

I’m not sure how you feel about it, but it seems to me like time goes by a little faster every year. I remember thinking around June that I couldn’t believe we were about half way through the year. Now, we are just a few days away from the new year.

As you reflect on the past year, you have probably experienced various ups and downs. And as the year comes to an end, you may have mixed emotions depending on what you have been through or what you are currently going through.

As we go through the challenges of life, they can make us feel closer to Christ as we press into Him for the provision we need, and trust Him to be who He promised to be in our lives. However, there are also times where the weight of the challenges we face can leave us feeling discouraged or wondering why God would allow us to go through certain situations.

The joy in all of this, is that God never stops being God. As a co-worker reminded me recently, His presence is always with us. So, no matter where we find ourselves in life, we can rest assured that God is still God. He is still in control. And He still loves us. And I pray those truths will bring you comfort today.

At the beginning of the year, I mentioned that my word for 2025 was, “receive.” I did not post about it as much as I initially thought I would, but God was continuously teaching me about receiving throughout the year. When God first revealed that receive would be my word, I was excited. But I also remembered, based on past experience, that the words God gives me are usually not without challenge. He uses them to stretch my faith so I can continue to grow up in Him. Plus, I know that receiving is closely linked to giving and I wondered, “What will God require me to give so that I may receive?”

Although God taught me to give in various ways, I discovered that what He desired most from me was surrender. He simply wanted me to give myself to Him. It is through daily surrender to God that we are able to receive from God.

We often struggle to surrender because we find it hard to give up control or should I say, the illusion of control. Somehow, we feel better when we believe we are in control. But needless to say, we are not really in control. And life has a way of reminding us of that because it can change so quickly. We are better off, when we learn to rely on God. And learning to rely on God is a daily process. But as we go through the process, He is walking with us. He freely extends His goodness and mercy to us, His joy which is our strength, His forgiveness when we repent, and His discipline, which He administers with love to keep us on the right path. God is patient with us, as we learn to live the surrendered life.

As I focused on surrendering to God, I was able to better receive His rest (both spiritual and physical), His provision so He could care for me, His courage so I could obey His will and His perspective on the situations life brought my way that were difficult to understand. Surrendering enabled me to receive God’s wisdom and instruction as I read His Word and learned to apply it to my life one day at a time, with the help of His Holy Spirit.

Is surrendering easy? No it isn’t. In fact, the Bible tells us in Matthew 7:13-14 NLT that choosing to surrender to Jesus is a difficult road.

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

“Only a few ever find it.” That hits hard but at the same time it makes sense when we consider the current state of the world. The greatest thing we can do as born again believers is receive the gift of Jesus daily. Each day, we must wake up with a renewed commitment to receive not only what He gives, but who He is. God always wants to show us more of who He is but we must be willing to surrender ourselves to Him, and commit our ways and our plans to Him. Proverbs 16:3 NIV says to, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we close out 2025, thank you for carrying us safely through another year. There have been joys during the year, but there have also been pains. You know what each one of us stands in need of today and you promised to supply our every need. Show us areas where we need to repent and live according to your Word so that we may experience the intimacy with you that Jesus came to give us.

Help us to surrender ourselves to you daily so that we may receive all you have for us each day. As we grow in you, help us to better see your perspective and understand your plans for us. It is not always easy to receive your truth because in most cases, the world we live in is contrary to your truth plus we are sometimes torn between Your Spirit and our own desires. But empower us to rise above any lies and deception the enemy brings our way so that we may receive your truth and live in victory.

Thank you for giving us the Spirit of power, love and sound mind that we may go forth courageously, choosing You instead of fear. May your Word light our path, and your Spirit lead us on level ground as we walk into this new year with You.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 143:10 NIV, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

I will continue to pray for you. Thank you for your love and support, may God bless you and your family in the coming year. Dawn

Small Bites

In my Bible reading, the Lord has been impressing upon me the importance of taking my time and choosing quality over quantity. I have found this to be very beneficial as it allows me the golden opportunity to take in the small details that I would otherwise overlook.

If I feel pressure to race through my daily reading, in an effort to complete a chapter or two, I will miss many of the simple truths that God wanted to speak to me that day through His Word. God’s Word is so full of the refreshment and nourishment that we so desperately need and I have found that consuming it in small bites has really helped me not to miss what matters most.

I am sure you have experienced those moments in your Bible reading where you have been reading and all of a sudden the words you read, jumped right off the page and captured your heart. And the crazy thing is that it is often something that we have read many times before. I have been finding that to happen more often, as I have been taking my time to hear what the Lord is saying to me by taking small bites of His Word, journaling, repenting and praying about what I have read.

I have been going through the book of Genesis, and about a week ago, my reading for the day was Genesis 4:13-16. Chapter 4 in Genesis shares the story of Cain and Abel. In the previous verses of that chapter, we learn that Cain killed His brother Abel and the Lord told Cain that when he worked the ground, it would no longer produce crops and that he would be a wanderer. Cain’s response/plea is below in verses 13-14. But God’s astounding response is in verse 15.

Genesis 4:13-16 NIV

13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.”

15 But the Lord said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden.

When I got to verse 15, GOD’S MERCY struck me, it jumped off the page and captured my heart! It was massive and hard to comprehend, but real. There was no way I could miss it and it caused me to examine my own heart, repent of my pride and realize how I, like Cain, have received God’s mercy, not once, not twice but time and time again. Here was a man who committed murder, yet the loving God we serve was willing to spare his life. God marked Cain so that no one would kill him, even though he had killed his brother, Abel.

Through Christ, we too have been marked by God’s mercy. He often withholds the punishment we deserve and the punishment we think others deserve. Realizing this, gives us the ability to trust Him with justice, after all, He has said that vengeance belongs to Him.

Romans 12:19 NIV

12 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.”

When we see others do wrong and it seems that they are getting away with it, justice belongs to the Lord. He has promised to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).

Vengeance can take on many forms. And in the times we live in, that vengeance often can come through the things that are being posted on social media. Many people often use their social media platforms to speak harsh words, post divisive things, hurt others, or insist upon their own way.

So, it’s even more important to make sure that what we post is coming from a place of love and God’s truth instead of vengeance, since we have a responsibility as Christians to bring glory to God and help expand His kingdom, not divide it. We know that God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33).

I am thankful God used these verses in Genesis to remind me of the greatness of His mercy. I love how the Word of God brings humility, conviction, and instruction to all who are willing to receive it.

James 2:13 NIV

13 “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

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