At Home in God's Heart

Perhaps prayer isn’t about you finding God but instead realizing He’s already found you.

Prayer can seem like another way to search for God. However, prayer is not about searching for Him; it’s about realizing that God has already made His home in you. This shift in perspective can transform your experience of God.

When you realize God has already found you, you are not searching to discover “where” He is. You “know” where He is. God is in you. He wants you to “be still”—to stop your striving and its distractions—and “know” He is in you (Psalms 46:10). Right before Jesus gave His life so we could have a relationship with the Father, He prayed for us to be made perfect in one (John 17:23). Now we are joined to God through Jesus, and “he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17). We are joined to the Father.  We are one with Him. He has found us and wants us to know Him as He knows us. 

When you “know” the new person the Holy Spirit has created in you, you are at peace in God’s goodness. You come confidently before God in your time of need (Hebrews 4:16).  His joy is your inner strength. You are not struggling to prove yourself to God. You know Jesus’ perfect work has proved you. God’s spiritual lens is not on you. It is on Jesus and what He has accomplished on your behalf. Not living under the microscope gives you freedom in your relationship with your Father. When you are free in His presence, prayer is spending time with Him, being honest with Him about your failures, and Him being frank with you. When you are “one” with Him, prayer is praising Him, seeking and knowing His wisdom, resting in His strength, and trusting He is good. Prayer is coming to know this God who has found you and made His home in you. Prayer is being at home in Him. 

“Train me, God, to walk straight,” David wrote, “then I’ll follow your true path. Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I’ll worship in joyful fear” (Psalm 86:11).

What a wonderful prayer! The Holy Spirit was given to us to accomplish exactly this: an undivided heart (John 14:26). Our prayer should be for our hearts to become one with the Lord. We are already one with Him in our born-again spirit (John 3:6, 1 Corinthians 6:17), but that oneness is conditional in our soul. When what we believe in our mind and heart agrees with what is true in our born-again spirit, we are “undivided” and complete in Him. 

Do you realize God has already found you? He knows your heart, and He wants you to know His. He desires you to know and love Him as He knows and loves you. Knowing the Lord, who has found you, begins when you seek to understand Him and the new life He has given you. Allowing the Word to transform your mind and bring your heart into agreement with the Father (Romans 12:2), completes you. 

“Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed” (Psalms 85:10).

 

God had to punish sin to be just (Romans 3:23, 6:23).  Otherwise, He would have been unjust. But mercy triumphs over justice (James 2:13). This problem was solved in Jesus.  God the Father laid our punishment on Him (Isaiah 53:6), and now, through Jesus, we can receive God’s mercy (Ephesians 2:4-6). Therefore, mercy and truth have come together.  Righteousness and peace have kissed. We are one with the Father through Jesus.

 

When your spirit and soul are “undivided,” you know the Father. He is in you, and you are in Him. Mercy and truth have met. Righteousness and peace have kissed. Prayer is kissing your Father’s face. It is loving, communing, and conversing with the One who lives in you and has given you His life. Prayer is God loving you, and you loving Him. He is at home in you, and you are at home in Him.

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Thrive Forever

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bear fruit in old age; 

They shall be fresh and flourishing,

To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

—Psalms 92:13-15

In Psalms 92:12, the psalmist compares the righteous to a palm tree and a cedar of Lebanon. Just as a tree must be planted in the right soil and climate to thrive, we, as the righteous, need to be rooted in the house of the Lord and in the courts of our God. It is through our relationship with the Lord that we find true prosperity.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

A person can be born again without abiding in Christ. 

Psalm 91:1 is a promise of favor and protection to those who have a close relationship with the Lord. This promise is for those who dwell in the Lord, not just visit him occasionally. This verse is speaking about remaining, abiding, and having a flourishing relationship with Him.

“Abide in Me,” Jesus said, “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” (John 15:4). You will only have a fruitful life if you have a prospering relationship with Jesus.

Psalm 91:9 promises protection when you have made the Most High God your dwelling place. When the Lord becomes your habitation, not only will your life bear fruit, but, as this verse says, “no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.”

In old age, the strength and self-confidence of youth are gone. But those who have a thriving relationship with the Lord, firmly planted in Him, will still be bearing fruit in their old age. Regrettably, many people are through bearing fruit in their old age and are just waiting to die. But that is not the way with the righteous. 

Psalms 9:14 speaks of the righteous still bringing forth fruit in their old age. Psalm 92:15  says the reason for this is to show that the Lord is righteous. The most productive days of the righteous can be their old age! Thank You, Jesus!

Don’t ever settle in your old age. You have something youth does not have. “Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding” (Job 12:12). 

Young and old alike have a purpose in this world. We all must abide in a growing and thriving relationship with the Lord. Youth need to listen patiently, and the aged need to speak patiently. We all have a purpose. We are His messengers so “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

Until we go home to the Lord, our life is either a bankrupt mess or a thriving message. Above all else, I want my life to reveal God’s faithfulness to those who have no idea they are starved for His goodness.

Psalm 71:17-18 declares: “O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, your power to everyone who is to come.”

Begin now, my brother and sister. Abide in Jesus, and thrive until the day you go home to be with the Lord. You have but one life. Thrive in the only message that has the power to give new life. 

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Confident Faith

But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

—Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)

When you trust in the Lord and have confidence in Him, you realize His blessings. You receive all of His strength for whatever comes against you. You stand firm against the enemy's attempt to destroy your faith. Like the roots of a tree seeking water for life, your soul searches, believes, and receives His living water. You persevere through whatever tries to impede you until living water overflows in your life. Once discovered, His living water, through the revelation of His Word and His Spirit, satisfies your soul with all you need to overcome any onslaught.

Your roots in God’s Truth anchor you strongly, and you live safely and securely in His will. His perfect love casts out any fear. You are like a tree planted by the water, continually receiving water for nourishment. Peace anchors you, and no circumstance creates fear. You continually draw from His well of living water and thrive in His Truth. No matter what may happen, your life remains pliable in His purpose. No worry grows where faith has taken root. You store His living water deep within so that in times of drought, you may draw from its truth. As you remain in Jesus, your life bears good fruit. Full of His peace, your life breathes and overflows with mercy and love.

Doesn’t this sound like an abundant life? To have a confident faith that overcomes all that comes against it and cannot be uprooted? To have a life that continually speaks His peace, remains calm in all seasons, offers hope to others, and shares His love? 

The truth is this kind of faith—this kind of life—is promised in God’s Word. I will firmly establish deep roots in His Word and apply it to my life. I choose to place my trust and confidence in Jesus. I am so thankful He loved me first, long before I even knew Him. Into every fiber of my being, His love flows. I am strong because He is strong in me. I overcome because He overcame for me. No weapon that comes against me will uproot my confident faith in Him. Because I know that my righteousness is in Him alone, I shall condemn every lie that comes against me.

I refuse to let any bad thought, horrible circumstance, or tormenting feeling define my life. I must live above these and not beneath them. When something doesn’t agree with the Word in my heart, I take authority over it. I refuse to be a recipient of the devil’s organized torment. His torment won't reign in my life. Jesus tormented the tormenters. When faced with Jesus, the tormenters in the demoniac had to flee. Jesus reigns in me, not anxiety, not fear that torments, or difficult circumstances. When faced with difficult circumstances and tormenting feelings, I submit to the power of God within me, resist the enemy, and he flees. The love and goodness of God define my life and not the lies of the enemy. I know who I am in Jesus.

We live in a world that is subject to the deceiver. He comes to destroy us because we are created in God’s image. The deceiver is jealous of us because God loves us. God cast him out of heaven. God doesn’t cast us out. He gathers us to Himself and tells us to cast our cares upon Him because He cares for us. Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy, and the enemy knows his time is short, so he comes to steal, kill, and destroy our faith. But he only has the power we allow. Jesus lives in us, and our life is not just getting by. God planned it to be abundant in Jesus.

Don’t embrace any untruth or lie the enemy presents to your mind. Submit to God, resist the deceiver, and he will flee. Place confident, persevering faith in Jesus. Never give up. You overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. Believe your debt is paid in full. Believe you are safely secured in Jesus. Believe you are the righteousness of God in Him. Speak the blessings Jesus has done in your life. You are living above and not beneath. You have the abundant life Jesus died to give you.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bear fruit in old age; 

They shall be fresh and flourishing,

To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

—Psalms 92:13-15

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Three Perceptions that Shape Your Life

Three distinct perceptions shape our lives: our perception of God, ourselves, and our circumstances. Most people remain unaware of their importance and live by chance or fate. However, those who realize the power of these three perceptions shape their lives by believing and receiving the goodness of God.

The main perspective that shapes your life and future is your perception of God. Do you perceive Him as distant, angry, unpredictable, secretive, or as loving, giving, open, and approachable? Our understanding of God significantly influences how we approach life. Those who perceive God as loving, open, and available—those who agree with His Word, believe His promises, and seek His Spirit—will have a different outlook on life compared to those who cling to a view that life is one of chance or fate. 

The Bible says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:17). Everything good in our lives is a perfect gift from our Father in heaven, who never changes. God is not the author of confusion and the evil that comes in life. Yet religion has often depicted a controlling God with inexplicable reasons for the disasters attributed to Him.

Ultimately, your perspective on God has a profound impact on your life.

The second perception that profoundly impacts your life is your self-image. Our self-image can be a powerful force or a destructive one. When we comprehend how God perceives us, as His children born of His Spirit, we can find comfort in our inherent value and eternal worth.  

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

God created us. We are of such immense value to Him that He was willing to sacrifice his life for our redemption! Your self-worth should be firmly rooted in God's love, rather than being defined by your fears and self-doubts.

Our third perception, our view of life's circumstances, is influenced by the first two: our perception of God and ourselves. Do our circumstances dictate our fate, or has the Lord equipped us to reign in life (Romans 5:17)? One approach leaves us susceptible to fate, while the other empowers us to walk in faith, overcoming the lies of a defeated deceiver and witnessing God's will manifesting in our lives.

My spirit is the part of me that is born of God (John 3:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 3:9). The spirit part of me always overcomes. If I'm not overcoming in life, it's because I'm not walking after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). I'm now a new creation in Christ and have a new identity, which is my spiritual self, not the flesh. Until I put my faith in Christ alone, walking after the Spirit and intentionally clothing myself in my new nature, the flesh will always overcome me. But if I want to be an overcomer in Jesus Christ, I put my faith in Him and walk after the Spirit. Then I don't live a life of chance, and I'm not subject to fate. I live a life of purpose, I'm subject to God, and the devil flees (James 4:7). 

These perceptions shape your life. God is always good toward you, and He never changes. He never violates His nature. The image you have of yourself is paramount. If your self-worth is not rooted in God's love, you will lack self-confidence and not feel worthy of God's goodness. 

You are born of God in Jesus Christ. You have received the power of God to overcome the devil, your deceiver, whom Jesus cursed on the cross and overcame. Be renewed in your mind by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:23). Put your faith in Christ, and always follow the Holy Spirit. Continuously seek Him, chase after Him, and continually put on your new man (Ephesians 4:24). You shall evidence God's will manifesting in your life. 

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4).

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HE CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE ENEMY

 

You overcome by the blood of Jesus, speaking the word of your testimony, and loving Jesus more than yourself.

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He Came to Destroy the Works of the Enemy

If We Faint Not

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

—Galatians 6:9

Hebrews 12:3 states, "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls." The King James Version puts it as, "lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." The term "consider" means to study, ponder, deliberate, examine, and meditate upon. To prevent ourselves from becoming weary and faint in our minds, we should intentionally consider and meditate on Jesus.

The Greek word "ekluo," which is translated as "faint" in Galatians 6:9 and Hebrews 12:3, actually means "to relax." This term does not refer to completely giving up; rather, it emphasizes the need to maintain the same level of intensity over an extended period of time. In other words, we need to practice patience.

Galatians 6:9 tells us not to become weary because one day we will reap. No one becomes weary instantly; weariness develops over time. The principle of sowing and reaping takes time to unfold. There is a "due season" when our harvest arrives, and we must maintain our faith until that time.  Weariness begins in our minds. Those who feel weary have often been thinking incorrectly. It's not the external events that cause our reactions; rather, it's our thoughts about what happens to us that determine our success or failure (Proverbs 23:7). To remain faithful during the growing season until our harvest arrives, we must win the battle over our thoughts.

The phrase "due season" signifies that there is an appointed time for our harvest to be ready. Farmers do not plant their crops one day and reap the next; it takes time for the seeds to germinate and mature. Similarly, spiritual seeds require time to grow. Those who do not understand this may become frustrated when they sow a seed and do not see an immediate return. All seeds—whether spiritual or physical—need to be planted well in advance of when they are needed. Just as farmers plant in the spring to harvest in the fall, we must also plan ahead when sowing spiritual seeds.

The promise of reaping is conditional upon our not fainting. Weariness is often the result of losing the battle over our thoughts. Many people may still appear to believe in God, but have given up mentally. They may deceive others, but "God is not mocked" (Galatians 6:7). The Lord examines their hearts (1 Samuel 16:7) and knows their innermost thoughts. 

Hebrews 12:3 offers us a remedy for weariness and discouragement: we must consider Jesus. He experienced more rejection and injustice than any of us ever will. Yet, He didn't just survive; He thrived. He even extended forgiveness to those who were crucifying Him. If He could do that, we can too, by following the guidance found in these verses. We shouldn't focus on the pain but rather on the promise that lies beyond it. By looking toward the prize to be gained instead of the race that needs to be run, we can endure just as Jesus did.

Have you compared the suffering Jesus endured to what you are enduring now?  In comparison, our problems are insignificant. Therefore, we can encourage ourselves with the certainty that just as Jesus prevailed, we too will prevail if we do not lose heart.

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