JESUS, I'M A WRECK! HELP ME, PLEASE...

Lord,
As You already know, I am an emotional, physical and (most damaging) spiritual wreck! I am at the end of me and mere men, for both have let me down so far that I fear I may never get up again!
     I have been in such a spiritual battle for the past 3 years of my life and to be honest I have not been seizing the victory that Christ already won for me. I'm saddened and sorry, Jesus. I let the circumstances of my life put a big huge gaping hole between me (my temporal circumstances) and the truth of my Savior and what He did for me (my eternal circumstances). Also, I am trying to learn that this is not about what He didn't do to others for hurting me, we have all hurt someone, but rather where and who do I go to for the healing, nurturing and comfort I so desperately need!
     I have no doubt that Jesus, my truest closest friend, sees, knows and even orchestrated the events of my life in the past 3 years (reasons not yet understood) and He would agree that they have been some pretty hard losses and burdens to bear. My problem has been in not just thinking I am alone through this, but in also conducting myself as if I am alone, indeed.  But, I am not alone! And, how lonely that must make Him feel to be there the entire time with arms wide open waiting for me to run to Him instead of running further and further away from Him!
     Jesus, I am in awe of how You love me... it is not a love that always makes me more comfortable here on earth, but it is a love that already knew exactly how and when I would need it.
     Thank You for loving me through my yucky dark stuff, but of course, that's who You are and what You do! Keep drawing my heart back to You, Lord, for that is where I truly belong.
     I love You Jesus, because You first loved me and did MANY things to prove that love.         ~

There Is Never Any Waste With God!

I hear you professing all the time that there is no waste with Me (God), so I'm pricking and invoking you to embrace that reality in your own heart and life. 
Recently some harsh blows to you living and abiding in Me and the built-in joy that entails has been, to say the least, challenging, but I want you to remember that I don't waver in any way in regards to that which concerns you and My plans, intentions and love for you!  But, you also need to remember that My plans and purposes for you never involve only you and it would be selfish of you to not understand this. 
Sarah, others are broken and hurting also and until that matters to you as much as it does to Me how then can you possibly want Me to help make your pain have not only an end but a purpose as well? 

Dear Lord,
These words You've given me are so true and You are such an amazing Savior, You have such a way of weaving us all into Your Purpose, which ultimately here on earth is to further Your kingdom by introducing those who don't know You to the One who died for them. You also intend for us to learn how to love others and be members of the Family Of God, one verse in 1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIRV says, "May the Lord make your love grow. May it be like a rising flood. May your love for one another increase. May it also increase for everyone else...". Holy Spirit, show me how to love others with the ever increasing love Paul the Apostle speaks of in this verse. I really want to learn how to love with (Your) unconditional, agape love.
One of the main purposes for Your children here on this earth is to bring glory and honor to You in everything we do and in such a way that it draws others to You, (1 Corinthians 10:31). One of the ways I can bring glory to Your name is to honor not only You during trials, but to honor the trial itself. Honor it by letting it have its way in and with me. Your word tells me, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance",  (Romans 5:3 NLT).

Sweet and Strong Jesus,
My selfish heart tends to want to dismiss or ignore the difficulties or hurts another person might be going through especially if they have the ability to affect some outcome in my  current situation or world.
When I am going through trials or dealing with difficult people... Please don't let tears be the only thing produced as I claim to feel the weight and gravity of the pain of others. Show me how to turn tears into actions-- may You also show me when tears are enough and prayer is all that is required-- for I am not called to bear everyone's burdens, but I must not miss or dismiss those You have meant for me.
I want to thank You for the gift of having people in my life who can , if and when I let them, help me get through some of these difficult times, and yes even help me to learn how to deal a little more graciously with difficult people. The truth that I have others I can go to who have personal experiences to share with me means so much  and I don't believe it's by coincidence, but because You knew I would need them and their wisdom "for such a time as this".

I know I must trust You Lord, always, and not be complacent or get discouraged while going through the trials that come with learning to exercise, grow and strengthen my faith...faith doesn't exhibit itself until I use it. But each and every time I do use it, my faith becomes stronger. That is why I can say with great assurance that there is no waste with You, Lord. There is not one thing that happens to me (or my loved ones) that You can't or won't turn around for my good and Your glory!

Yes, I will make good on all of My promises, just hold on to and use your faith as I intended for You to, and trust that I do have a greater purpose than what you can see, for you and all of My children. The pain you may be experiencing has a purpose, but the pain itself is not the purpose, in other words, there is always something spiritual going on when trials and challenging people are at work in your life. Try to let spiritual growth have its way in you and then you will either understand what I am trying to acheive in and through you or you will be released from the burden it brings. Trust that I don't randomly, without reason put My children through trials in which there is no purpose... for everything I do has an eternal and lasting purpose. 

~ 

A Brand New Year! 2017

Great Is His Faithfulness; His Mercies Begin Afresh Each Morning. 

~ Lamentations 3:23 NLT

 

Dear Lord,

     2016 brought with it many blessings and the fulfillment of many of Your promises. I look back on these past twelve months and I marvel at Your Majesty! 

Our family waited, not always patiently, but in our willing or unwilling we became witnesses to and partakers of Your supernatural love in very tangible ways.
You are a supernatural God who shows us just what that is in our personal natural lives. 
     We are starting a brand new year with brand new mercies and brand new visions and brand new hopes, plans, dreams and desires! You are the Author, the Director and the Producer of these new chapters in my story. 

God says..."I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will have special dreams." 

Acts 2:17 ERV 

 I want the mind and kind of Jesus in this year to come. In His character, I want to find mine. The burden of my will shall be His that I carry. No more do I want the unfulfilling dreams of no eternal importance. The distractions of this world will not entangle my heart and when they do, You My Lord, will prune the clutter away and set my growth on Your path once again. 

     Thank You for not only not giving up on me, but for not even wanting to consider giving up on me! Yours is a love I can and want to respond to, in fact, Your love commands a response, for it is not idle and it longs to be expressed through me. 
Wow, the gravity of that is almost inconceivable... the living God of all creation wants to express Himself through me?! 

Jesus, I know that I have so much opportunity in this coming year to get to know You more deeply and more intimately and I want to be ready for whatever change and growth You have in store for me. And, not just me, but family and loved ones as well. 

~