A Joy Unequaled

 
Years ago I realized I needed something more in my walk with the Lord. I thought I knew Him intimately, but trials convinced me I didn’t completely trust Him. I knew faith and fear could never work together. But what I sensed—what I felt, saw, and experienced had more power in my life than the truth I thought I knew. I realized I couldn’t walk by faith without knowing the absolute safety of Jesus’s perfect love for me. The only way I would know the breadth, height, length, and depth of His love was to surrender myself and take in more of Him. I wanted to know His genuine and palpable presence, so I came to Him, defenseless, vulnerable, and wide open. I began to delve into the Word as I never had before. Paul’s epistles came to life for me. In Philippians 3:7-8, I found his response to Jesus. 
 
“But whatever former things were gains to me [as I thought then], these things [once regarded as advancements in merit] I have come to consider as loss [absolutely worthless] for the sake of Christ [and the purpose which He has given my life]. But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]” (Philippians 3:7-8, AMP).
 
Paul considered everything he had gained in life as loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Jesus Christ. The things that once mattered, believed, and drove his life had suddenly become nonsense. Paul discovered that in knowing Jesus, he had received the “supreme advantage” of life and godliness. When the Word began to come to life in me, the world, the opinions of others, and the lies I believed became less valuable compared to the precious privilege of knowing Jesus. Faith began to overcame the sin of fear that controlled my life.
 
Paul’s words reveal the supreme advantage of knowing Christ. Understanding this advantage emerges when we pursue God as He pursues us. God pursued Paul and finally got his attention on the road to Damascus. When faced with the goodness of God’s love, I have a decision: I either respond or I don’t. In pursuing God, I discover the indescribable gain of knowing Him. I receive His forgiveness, healing, deliverance, provision, and blessing. This pursuit restores and completely satisfies me.
 
Just a few weeks after my husband and I were married, he took a four week business trip. It was a terribly hard to be apart. We valued our visits on the phone. Through the last  56 years, we have grown to value each other more completely. We have to come to know each other as others don’t. Marriage is an example of what our relationship with the Father should be. Personal, intimate, special, protected, giving, receiving, vulnerable, honest, and committed. Two are no longer two. Two have become one.
 
When I value my marriage highly, I consider it a priceless privilege. I'm familiar with what I need to know about my spouse, learn to respond to his likes and dislikes, and anticipate how he will respond in various situations. The same is true of our relationship with God. Knowing God intimately acclimates us to His likes and dislikes. We know how to respond in difficult situations. We hear Him clearly and understand the hidden things unique to our relationship. Two have become one.
 
When we place unsurpassed value on knowing God, we discover He is the God of abundant life. Ephesians 3:18 reveals this abundance as knowing the breadth, length, height, and depth of His love for you. The more we know God, the more of Him there is to know. The gift of His love is unending and just waiting to be unpacked and known by you.
 
The world offers nothing lasting. God desires to change our lives with His surpassing love and to establish His Kingdom. But we can never build His Kingdom on our merit and limited understanding. Knowing God fully will not only draw us closer to Him but draw others too. It is our priceless privilege to know Jesus. As we grow more deeply acquainted with Him, we have the supreme advantage to successfully navigate and overcome in this life.
 
Peter wrote: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3).
 
We have been given everything we need to live a godly life. We discover these things by knowing God intimately.
 
Paul wrote: “[I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]” (Ephesians 1:17, AMP).
 
I cannot live by my insight. It is death to my faith (Romans 8:6). I desire my Father’s deep and personal insight. His insight is much better than my senseless one. His insight is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
 
Lord, grant me a spirit of wisdom and revelation in my relationship with you. As you hunger for me, I want to hunger for you. The former things I thought meant something now mean nothing. The former fears mean nothing. The former life has passed away. I walk by faith and not by sight. You are all I need. Nothing surpasses this priceless privilege of knowing you. It is a "joy unequaled."

What Are You Considering in Your Heart?

What you consider is more than just having a thought. It is taking a thought, meditating on it, and deliberating on how it applies to you. What you consider determines the course and the outcome of your life.

Look at Abraham: “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb” (Romans 4:19).

Abraham chose not to meditate on his advanced age and the “deadness of Sarah’s womb.” He chose not to let himself meditate on these negative things but placed his faith in God’s promise that they would have a child. 

Whether we realize it or not, our hearts always meditate on something. The heart is where our choices are made, and our futures are shaped. “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
 
No matter the world's difficulties and challenges, we can choose what we will consider in our hearts. Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world with no sin and chose to consider Satan's words. What they considered changed human destiny. We now live with the results of their choice. We no longer live in a perfect world. We have to consider issues and make choices. We can consider the darkness of this world and be depressed, or we can consider the goodness of God’s love and be found in faith like Abraham. Our circumstances won’t automatically vanish, but we will grow in our faith to overcome them.
 
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:35).
 
We all draw something from our hearts. Some of us bring forth fear, worry, anger, envy, resentment, and lust. Others bring forth love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Regardless of whether it’s the good or evil treasure of our hearts, words are spoken, actions and reactions change lives, and futures are shaped. You must “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23).
 
“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy,” Paul wrote, “meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).
 
Mediate on things that are of a good report—honest, uplifting, encouraging, and praiseworthy! Don’t meditate on the “dark” issues in your life! Jesus is the Light. Mediate on Jesus and God’s promises. You may be “old and barren” to this world, but you are “young and fruitful” and full of promise to Jesus.
 
What would your life be like if your mind and heart contemplated pure and lovely things? Can you envision yourself living in a place of God’s peace and faith? If you consider good things in your heart, it is possible to live in love, joy, and peace.
 
“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes,” Jesus said (Mark 9:23). 
 
The heart is where you believe (Romans 10:9). What are you considering in your heart?




 

The Fear of Man

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
—Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV)

 
 
The fear of man and the opinions of others can hinder our ability to receive wisdom from God. The choice we make to follow the Lord or succumb to the influence of others determines the extent of wisdom we obtain. When we prioritize our human desire for acceptance and recognition, we forfeit God’s wisdom. Any endeavor that promotes selfishness and pride hinders our ability to receive the wisdom that flows from an intimate relationship with God. 
 
If we truly seek God’s wisdom in our lives, Proverbs 9:10 emphasizes that the beginning of this journey lies in the fear of the Lord. This fear of the Lord is not an anxiety over God’s judgment; instead, it is a profound esteem for God and His Word, placing them above the requirements and opinions of others. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). By humbling ourselves, we open ourselves up to receiving wisdom from God. Only when our respect for the Lord surpasses the opinions and beliefs of others can we truly walk in the wisdom of God. 
 
“The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25, NKJV).
 
Trusting in the Lord is a sign of spiritual maturity. By relying on His wisdom over the opinions of others, you can experience life and peace (Romans 8:6). However, when you yield to the opinions of others instead of Him, you find yourself trapped in emotional bondage and limited in your potential. 
 
The fear of man will cost us God’s wisdom and, eventually, the respect of those we have tried to please. Look at Saul. He told Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I have feared the people and obeyed their voice” (1 Samuel 15:24, NKJV). Saul humbly began as king and ended his reign in pride and destruction.
 
David, however, responded to Nathan the prophet when confronted about his sins involving Bathsheba and Uriah. He understood that God’s truth was the best course for his life. He immediately repented and said of God, “You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part you will make me to know wisdom” (Psalm 51:6, NKJV). He realized that an open heart to God would lead to His wisdom.
 
Jesus only listened to His Father. He disregarded the religious leaders and had no intention of appeasing them or seeking their approval. He chose to honor His Father’s will over the occasional advice of those He had called to follow Him. The emotional pressures of others did not sway Jesus. His delight was in the fear of the Lord. He did not respond to what his eyes saw or what he heard from others (Isaiah 11:3). Jesus walked completely in the wisdom of His Father.
 
Do I walk in the fear of the Lord or the fear of man? Do I prioritize the Word of Jesus, which is full of grace and truth (John 1:14), or do I consider what others think, trying to gain their approval? Yes, we all crave acceptance, especially from those we care about and admire. However, when we prioritize God’s wisdom above all else, putting God first is always the beginning.
 
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom” Solomon wrote. “And in all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7, NKJV). God’s wisdom is the most important thing. Therefore, seek God’s wisdom; He generously gives it to us (James 1:5). Seek to understand how to apply and exercise His wisdom in your life.
 
“We do not cease to pray for you,” Paul said, “and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” (Colossians 1:9, (NKJV).
 
The fear of others’ opinions can hinder you from agreeing with God’s will and His plans for your life. God’s wisdom lies in choosing His desires over what others think or expect. When you are filled with God’s wisdom and spiritual understanding, the opinions of others take second place to God’s opinion. You trust God’s truth, and you continually choose Him. You know that “fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety” (Proverbs 29:25, NLT).



 

Determined to Finish the Course

Many Christians say they desire God to use them, but when asked to do something inconvenient, they say, “I didn’t know how hard this was going to be.” If you are going to do something exceptional for God, you have to throw yourself into His call and do what is needed, regardless of whether or not it is convenient.

Doing what God has called us to do should be the standard of our lives. It should be more valuable and significant than any comfort or personal desire. Like Paul, we must be willing to do anything required or go to any length to do what God asks. 

If you are going to do something for God, the enemy is not going to stand silently by. He will play havoc with your comfort level. If God asks you to do something outside your comfort zone, don’t complain about it. When you do, you refuse to exercise your faith. You will not do anything significant for God— at least not until you change your attitude.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

The Kingdom of God suffers violence at the hands of the enemy. You must be more determined than the enemy’s deception, barriers, and accusations. What is the vision God has given you? That vision is not going to come easily. Satan will come against it in any way he can. That vision must be more important than your need to feel safe and secure. You must be willing to do anything needed to see that purpose succeed. When you claim this attitude for your life—when you are determined to pursue God’s purpose at all costs, you will push through hard times and gain ground for the Kingdom of God.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23, Paul revealed his determination to finish God’s call, regardless of what he had to do and the challenges he had to overcome. 

“Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.”

Paul said that, in addition to working hard, he had been physically beaten as he pursued his God-given task of spreading the Gospel. He had received “stripes above measure.” The beatings he received were frequent, cruel, and brutal. But Paul never allowed this intense cruelty to affect his commitment to the task God had given him. You must be more determined than anything the devil brings against you. You cannot withstand the devil’s onslaughts in your flesh alone. But with the power of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome them.

Paul said that he has been “in prisons more frequent.” A prison was usually a small, dark chamber where the most dangerous prisoners were heavily guarded. This is what Paul consistently endured. Of course, Paul didn’t desire this, but if going to jail meant that he would accomplish his calling, that was what he was willing to do. He was ready to undergo any inconvenience, pay any price, and go to all lengths to do what God asked of him.

Paul also said that in addition to the beatings and imprisonment he endured, he was “in deaths often.” He was constantly confronted with the possibility of death. Paul never wanted to face death daily. It was just part of his call to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. However, he faced it bravely rather than hide from danger and kept moving forward to fulfill his purpose.

Had Paul been less committed, only a few of these difficult experiences would have stopped him. But because he was completely focused on finishing the work God had given him, he pushed beyond each beating, imprisonment, and fear of death. And because of his commitment, we received the Gospel. At the end of his life, he could say, “I have finished my course” (2 Timothy 4:7). 

The Holy Spirit who empowered Paul to overcome each of these hardships is available to help you. You don’t have to give up in defeat. If you choose to use the power that is available to you, the Spirit of God will strengthen you and give you victory over any difficulty the enemy uses against you. 

Submit to God, and He will strengthen you to overcome every deception and obstacle. If you embrace God’s power, He will give you everything you need to endure and succeed in the purpose He has given you. Be determined to hold on to God’s call for your life and to move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be willing to give everything.

May I also be faithful as those who have given everything, laboring hard and enduring whatever comes. One day, may I be able to say as Paul, “I have finished my course,” and hear you saying, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Asking in His Name

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
—John 16:24 

Before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Old Testament saints didn’t have a Savior. They didn’t have the name of Jesus. In a sense, when they asked God for something they were asking in their own names. They appealed to His mercy in the sacrifices that covered their sins, but there was no real atonement. 

When Jesus died, He provided the real atonement that all the Old Testament sacrifices represented. He became our Savior, and now we can do much more than approach God in our names or based on our own works. We can ask and receive from the Lord in Jesus’ name based on His perfect finished work for our sins.

There is a huge difference between approaching the Lord in the Spirit and approaching Him in the flesh. By using the name of Jesus, we are asserting that Jesus’ righteousness is the factor that makes us worthy of receiving from God. It means we are depending on the grace of God and not our performance. Those who ask but believe God responds to them based on what they do are actually misusing the name of the Lord. They are asking and using His name in vain. It doesn’t matter if they end every prayer with “in Jesus’ name.” If they aren’t standing in the grace of God, they are not using the name of Jesus correctly.

This instruction to pray in His name was given to the disciples the night before He was crucified. While Jesus was on this earth, the disciples asked Him for whatever they needed, and Jesus would ask the Father and get it for them. Here Jesus was saying that they should not ask Him anymore, but they should take their requests directly to the Father, asking in His name. 

Asking in the name of Jesus means that God treats our requests with the same reverence and consideration as He would if Jesus were personally making the request. Consequently, we can anticipate receiving the same treatment from God as Jesus would receive. However, those who pray in the name of Jesus but then harbor doubts about God’s response due to their unworthiness are essentially misusing the name of Jesus. However, the individual who truly prays in Jesus’ name understands that it is Jesus’ holiness that God judges, not their own.

“Ask in my name and receive that your joy may be full,” Jesus said. 

 

It’s not what you receive in this life that brings complete joy. It’s knowing that your Father, God, loves you, died for you, rose again in power for you, and is now alive, giving you new life. He has forgiven all your sins and healed all your diseases. In the rich inheritance you have in Christ, there’s provision for every need. You’ve received His finished work, not a partial one, but a complete one that has all the power to absolutely transform your life. When you abide in Jesus, you ask in His name. When you ask in faith, Jesus transforms you and your earthly experience into His perfect experience. Praying in Jesus’ name for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven is life-changing. You’re praying for His will in you, in the lives of others, in need, in health, and in all things to be as it is in heaven. You receive from the Lord who transforms you, spirit, soul, and body, into the image He created, restoring you to His original intent. This is the fullest joy.

The blessings of Jesus’ finished work is not something to be earned; it is something that is inherent in your relationship with Him and manifests in fellowship with Him. Abiding is not a one-time thing. It is ongoing fellowship with the Father all the days of your life. If you continually seek Him, you will be abiding in His Presence. 

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 14:13; 16:24).

That Your Joy May Be Full

These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
—John 15:11


In John 15, Jesus spoke to the disciples about abiding in Him. Here in John 15:11, He gave them the reason. If His joy remains within them, their joy will be full.

Our flesh fights abiding in Jesus. It considers abiding in Him as something that takes away our joy. Yet Jesus said that abiding in Him would cause us to have fullness of joy. There is an unparalleled depth of joy and satisfaction found in abiding in Jesus. It is a joy that nothing in this world can offer.

The reason some Christians don’t have this joy is because they aren’t abiding in Him. Abiding in Jesus is being in the presence of the Lord. And in the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11). 

Joy is one of the most powerful weapons we have against hopelessness and discouragement. Joyful praise is a powerful weapon against the devil because He hates worship of the Lord (Matthew 4:9). In challenging situations that test our faith, praising the Lord redirects our focus away from our problems, centers it on Jesus, and unleashes the joy that comes from faith. 

“That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:3-4).

John’s intention in writing his letter was to invite others to share in the same fellowship with the Father and Son that he enjoyed. This fellowship is the source of all joy. True joy is not derived from material possessions or the absence of problems; it lies in the presence of fellowship with the Father and Son. Moreover, if we experience the joy that this fellowship brings, it will endure even when things don’t happen as we desire.

“You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence” (Acts 2:8).

The Lord wants us to know fullness of joy. It is a joy that leaves no room for doubt in the faithfulness of God. It is a joy that trusts in His ways and believes without seeing.

Peter declares in 1 Peter 1:8: “Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

Your joy is not derived from what you experience in this world, but rather from your belief in Jesus. You may not have seen Jesus, yet believing, you have intimacy and fellowship with Him. When you desire to know Him as He knows you, fellowship with Him supersedes all else. You live in Him as He lives in you. It is in our hearts agreeing with Him that the spiritual realm overcomes our experience. If we truly believe in Him, His experience will become ours. We will rejoice with a joy that is unspeakable and filled with glory.

Jesus is abiding in you, never withdrawing, leaving, or forsaking you. But, if you don't believe this, you won’t desire abiding in Him, and you will forfeit the power of the Word and the joy of His presence. 

But Jesus came that your joy may in full. How much do you desire to know the abiding Presence of the One who gave you life?


 

Embrace His Vision

What a great message from our pastor yesterday!  It confirmed a vision that God gave me forty years ago but never came to life. I’m not too old to take possession of that vision now. The last four decades have seasoned me. I have filled my heart with faith in the Word of God. I have turned myself from doubt and unbelief, and it’s time to surrender myself to His purpose.

Praise you, Jesus, that even though years ago I allowed the fear of others’ opinions to derail this vision, You’ve never let go of believing in me. Your Word says you don’t withdraw Your calling, and you haven’t. I repent of the fear of man and not investing myself completely in the Word as you instructed in 1985. I wasn’t spiritually mature enough to handle this vision then, but through the years, I’ve prepared my heart. I’m not too old. I’m still young and green in You.

This Promise has been waiting for forty years. There will always be giants and opposition to Your purpose. But You’ve equipped me. You’ve given me the power and the authority to do as You’ve asked. You can do abundantly and exceedingly more than I ask or think, but I must be willing to be Your hands and feet and surrender to Your power working in me.

I thank You for this incredible privilege of serving others and the trust You have placed in me. I believe You no matter what happens or what others think. I surrender to the Word—to You. The enemy will try to derail Your purpose in my life, but I flee from his lies. My thoughts and emotions will tempt me to derail it, too, but I’ve drawn a line in the sand that I won’t cross. You are faithful to perform Your Word. I’ll not walk in the death of the carnally minded; I’ll be spiritually minded and embrace life and peace. Your goodness will flow in the land of the living.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for; it’s the evidence of that which isn’t seen. I’m moving forward, Jesus, embracing Your calling and taking that step of faith. If I don’t move, You cannot use me; Your purpose will remain a dream that never came to life.

Through these many years, each step of faith has prepared me. Each failure has taught me to rely on You. It’s not who I am. It’s who You are in me. I’m just Your vessel, and by faith I take possession of the purpose you’ve entrusted to me. 

What vision or calling has God entrusted to you? Have you put it on hold because it seems impossible? Trust in Him. Don’t take into account your emotions, thoughts, or understanding. In every way honor Him, and He will direct your steps. Invest yourself in Him, and follow Him. The Holy Spirit will empower you beyond your perceived limitations. Looking unto Jesus and Him alone, move forward in Him. You may falter at times when you face the giants, but you shall overcome. No matter your age, your health, or the voices reminding you of your failures, embrace the vision God has given you, and draw upon His power working exceedingly abundantly beyond what you ask or think.

https://lynnlacher.com/2025/09/embrace-his-vision.html

Knowing Him

A pursuit of God that is just intellectual isn’t a relationship because there is no interaction or communication. It is in interaction with God that we are changed. Knowing what the Word says is extremely important, but we should never limit God. He has more for us than intellectual knowledge. God created us to “know” Him intimately. To be intimate, there must be interaction. Since God is the Word, He communicates with us through it. We have a relationship with the Word.
 
Knowing God mirrors the physical intimacy of marriage—the becoming of one between a husband and wife. Such a relationship has no fear of condemnation or shame. It has the freedom of honesty because it trusts. It is deeply personal and vulnerable. Most of all, it is safe. You can have this kind of intimate relationship with God where you can be vulnerable because you know you are safe. 
 
Safety is found in surrender. When you surrender to God, you are declaring that you trust him. You can be honest with Him, exposing all your fears and failures. He rejoices in your honesty. He doesn’t shame or condemn you. You belong to Him. God calls you to experience knowing Him. He has made the first move toward you with the finished work of the cross. He is waiting for your surrender.
 
God reveals the things we need to let go of to experience His goodness. Surrendering to Him unlocks your heart to receive from Him. It is the same as in marriage. Surrendering to your spouse allows intimacy to grow, and surrendering to God allows deeper intimacy.
 
“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). 
 
This is God’s promise. What God says He means. He doesn’t play games with you. He follows through with what He promises. But His promise involves your response. When you search for Him with all your heart, you will find Him. God desires all of you—not a spur-of-the-moment you. He doesn’t want you distracted by anything that keeps you from Him. God isn’t vague about you. His love for you is intentional, and He desires the same from you.
 
When you intentionally seek God, you will become so acutely aware of Him that your heart becomes interwoven with His. You will know without a doubt what breaks His heart because it breaks yours, and you will know what brings Him joy because it brings you joy.
 
Don’t you want to have a heart like this? A heart that is intimately one with His?
 
Paul writes in Philippians 3:10: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
 
Every aspect of my life should revolve around knowing Jesus intimately and personally. In this verse, Paul takes knowing Jesus even further. Paul wants to know the power of His resurrection. It is only in intimacy with Jesus do we experience His resurrection power working in us. And it is only in intimacy that we understand the persecution He experienced for us. I want a deep personal relationship with the Lord that releases His life and power through me into the lives of others. I can only find this relationship when I surrender completely to Him. 
 
This is the intentional purpose Paul writes about in Philippians 3. Do I press on toward the goal of knowing Him? Do I surrender myself, my struggles, doubts, fears, and desires so that I might know God intimately? The more I seek Him, the more I know Him. The more I know Him, the more He reveals Himself to me.

Lord, I don’t want to limit myself from receiving the best You have for me. I want to experience You. I want Your profound truths to be revealed in my heart, and I want my heart to mirror Yours. Reveal each thing that holds me hostage to myself. Reveal each lie that I have believed, and I will surrender it to You. I pursue You, Jesus. I surrender all I am. I rest in your finished work. You, O God, are MY Father. I trust in You.
 
—He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”
—Psalms 91:1-2
 

https://www.lynnlacher.com/2025/09/knowing-him.html

What Does God Want Me to Do with My Faith?

Our pastor asked several questions last night, and one stuck with me. What does God want me to do with my faith? He wants me to use it—to invest it in Him. Faith is a seed, and a seed must be sown and cared for to produce fruit. You will either reap sparingly or abundantly. Your harvest is up to you.

Everything in life has limits. We are taught from childhood to know our limits and to live with them. It can be hard to believe God has no limits. But when we enter God’s spiritual realm, we must remove all the limits. We must renew our minds with the truth that God is not like us. He can do anything.
 
We have an incredible God whose power is so abundant that we can't even grasp it with our limited minds. He created the sun, earth, moon, stars, and all the universe. He made us, and nothing was impossible for Him. Yet, we often think our hardships, our sicknesses, and our needs are too complex for Him. We can't see how He can make a way when there seems to be no way. We are too limited by what we think and experience. 
 
“Behold,” the Lord declared to Jeremiah, “I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
 
Jeremiah had questioned the Lord’s wisdom in leading him to purchase his cousin’s field. The Babylonians would conquer the nation of Israel, and property ownership would be useless. In Jeremiah 32:27, the Lord countered Jeremiah by asking him if anything was too hard for Him. Of course, the answer was no! God would return the Israelites to their land, and property would again be worth something.
 
God’s answer to us is also an indisputable NO! NOTHING is too complicated for God! 
 
“If you should say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them—’” (Deuteronomy 7:17)?
 
The Lord had promised Israel victory over all their enemies. Yet, in this verse, He said that if the people doubted, that doubt would stop Him from fulfilling His promise. We must cooperate with God’s Word through faith to reap its benefit. Without faith, you will not receive, and you will not please God (Hebrews 4:2, Ephesians 3:20, Hebrews 11:6).
 
The only thing that limits God working in our lives is our unbelief.
 
“If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes,” Jesus told the father of the demon-possessed young man. (Mark 9:23)
 
Jesus wouldn’t accept total responsibility for the miracle of delivering this young man. This father had to believe, too, so Jesus threw the responsibility back on the father.
 
“And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you’” (Matthew 29:28-29).
 
It was not Jesus’ faith that believed for these two blind men. They had to put their faith in Jesus to heal them. The word “according” means “in keeping with.” Their faith was sufficient to produce their healing. However, they had never been healed before this time. The reason was that they had never had a Savior in whom they could put their faith. 
 
“If you have faith as a mustard seed,” Jesus said, “you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
 
God has given us a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). Are we using that measure of faith? It can be as small as a mustard seed yet powerful enough to move a mountain. When our faith agrees with God’s Word, our faith is sufficient enough to produce God’s promises of salvation, healing, deliverance, blessing, and all Jesus’ atonement purchased on our behalf. Nothing is impossible if we believe.
 
Am I looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of my faith? (Hebrews 12:2). The promises of God are worth my investment. I will not bury my faith out of fear that it will fail. I will invest His Word in my heart. His best return is just waiting for me to reap. My faith in Him is sufficient. I will never retreat. I will move forward into the realm of God’s promise and take possession. He is my Savior in whom I can put my faith.

Looking unto Jesus

Have you gone through the loss of a friendship, a dream, or a loved one? Are you fighting the fear of never receiving a promise God has made to you? The fear and pain of loss can be debilitating. Have you heard the advice to “keep your eyes on Jesus” over and over until it just rings hollow? But what may have become a cliché is actually the most profound advice of all.

With any kind of loss, fear empowers our anxiety, clouds our thoughts and emotions with poor judgment, and distracts us from the only thing that can help us: Jesus. 

“Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

“Looking unto Jesus” is the most profound advice we can receive. It means turning our attention away from everything except this one thing. We are instructed to focus solely on Jesus and consider only Him. We should meditate and ruminate on Him, capturing our thoughts and emotions and bringing them under His authority. We should concentrate on Him until we are utterly convinced that He is the initiator of this journey of faith within us and He is the only One who can complete it. Regardless of our circumstances, if we fail to maintain ongoing fellowship with Jesus, we will become disheartened and disillusioned. This is true in all details of life, but it is particularly true when we are experiencing loss of any kind. If our loss isn’t filled with Jesus, fear will anchor us instead of faith.

If you do something Scripture instructs you to do and don’t receive what it promises, don’t conclude that it’s not God’s will for you. The issue is never on God’s part. Additionally, remember to be patient with yourself; times of tremendous pain and loss can lead to self-recrimination and judgment. God is faithful. When you focus on God’s ability more than your loss or failure, it is easier to place your trust in Him. If He requires some change on your part, just do it with grace. 

God instructs me to believe in Him instead of dwelling on whatever has kept me from trusting Him. Dwelling on my loss keeps me from looking unto Jesus. Consider Peter walking on water. When he took his eyes off Jesus, he noticed the waves. Looking at them, anxiety filled his heart, and he sank (Matthew 14:24-31).

Looking unto Jesus brings us peace. His peace fights and conquers everything that opposes it. When I realize that anxiety has kept me from Jesus, I repent of the sin of holding on to fear. I command that spirit of fear to leave, declaring that it has no place in my life and Jesus has given me power, love, and a sound mind. Now Jesus doesn’t make any of this happen for me. It is my responsibility to step out of the boat and trust Him.

Don’t meditate on your loss or what you have never received from God. Meditate on His true nature. Hebrews 13:6 say that Jesus is your helper. When you cry out for help, He runs to you. 

Never give in to self-pity, anger, fear, resentment, and all the emotional junk the enemy stirs within you; you will become a victim and avoid doing what is in your power to help yourself. 

Perhaps, right now, you can only take one small step. But what seems a small step to you is huge in God’s eyes. It is like Peter stepping out on water. Unlike Peter, keep your eyes on your Master. Just step out of this loss that has claimed your heart and start moving forward, keeping your eyes on Jesus and not allowing anything to distract you from His perfect peace. He doesn’t want you to become discouraged or weary. He wants you to believe in Him and trust Him no matter what you have seen or experienced. Your part is small. His part is immense. Just take a step of faith and experience the Father empowering you. You will not drown. You will overcome.