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It is a true Christian's desire to be close to Jesus Christ. A popular prayer that I often hear, even in songs, is "Draw me close to you Lord". As I sat and thought about this, I wondered if we really know what we are asking. When we ask to be close to the Lord, what we are really saying is, Lord, I am willing and ready to experience Your glory AND suffering. Both are worth it in the end when it's all said and done...

Hold On

When burdens seem too heavy for you to bear...
When your heart is overwhelmed and nothing will calm it...
When life's storms push you to the edge...
When your thoughts are consumed with worry...
When you don't know how things are going to turn out...
When there's no one there who really understands & you feel alone...
When you've given your all and it doesn't seem good enough...
When you have reached your breaking point...

Isaiah 40:28-31
²⁸Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.²⁹He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. ³⁰Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: ³¹But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

He knows what's best...

On this journey we will come to places in our lives where we will question God's will and even His commands that He gives us. Our flesh doesn't want to be told what to do. Hence, we struggle with the will of God. We begin to say we want out. Pack our spiritual bags and give God 2 fingers. All because our flesh wants to do otherwise. But, even when you don't understand what He's telling you to do, God knows what's best! You have to know at all times and in all circumstances in your life that God's will is good.

Will you let go of the very thing you feel closest to? That thing that you are deeply rooted to. That thing you depend on most. That thing that has a stronghold on you. At all cost and in spite of how you feel, God wants to know that you will do anything and let go of anything for Him.

An eternal yes is what we need to give Him. And even after your yes you still may be hurting. Saying yes doesn't necessarily take away the pain. It's through your gradual walk and acceptance of His will that you begin to heal. Your yes will be tested and tried. But know this, that the safest place you can be, is in His will. And in His will is victory to overcome any and everything.

Modern Day Famine

As I was riding on the Metro this morning, glancing at the headlines of newspapers that passengers were reading, I began to think about the condition within our country and how there is such a need for God's deliverance. If only this world and the rulers/authorities thereof will see the missing link to the continual downfall on this earth.

It's not until we realize AND acknowledge the missing piece that the Lord will begin to heal our land and deliver us from this modern day famine that each of us are in. When I think of famine, I think of a quantity or substance that is scarce or lacking. Your famine may not necessarily be food related or you're struggling to find a meal, but it could be the absence of peace in your mind, your relationship with Christ has become minuscule, you can't seem to hear God's voice, the lack of love that was shown to you as a child, the husband/wife that your heart has drifted away from, the lack of finances to do things you need to, or even your business not doing very well. These things are all inclusive of your modern day famine.

But here's the answer: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

So many of us miss it because we have our own way of attempting to relieve the famine in our lives. Seek God's face today. Seek His strength, seek His power, seek His love. There is nothing that the Lord cannot heal your land from.