Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting. James 4:8 TPT

I believe the key to hope is in this verse; moving your heart closer and closer to God, keeping your life clean and your heart pure. I think it’s showing us that the closer we get to Him, gaining His perspective and believing and trusting in His promises, we no longer try to make things happen, we trust Him to guide us and rest in His timing for the moment to happen.

When we doubt, it erodes out hope. Like water that washes under a rock, once the dirt is gone, there’s no longer a foundation for it to sit on and eventually it will fall into the water. It’s not that doubt won’t come, it’s what you do with it that makes the difference.

Jesus told His disciples in Mark 11:22-23; So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

Have faith in God. Place your hope in His word. Don’t let doubt cheat you of your promises. You may not be able to make it happen, but that’s what He is for. You do what He says and trust Him with the rest. Put your enemy (doubt) in it’s place and walk on with your hand in His. He will lead you if you’ll allow Him to and trust me, everything will work out alright.

Sandy G 

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous.Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Yes my friend, it really does matter. Everything that is seen and unseen, known and unknown, dreams, goals, promises, all of it matters to God. You may be asking, if it matters, then why does it take so long? If you could see what God has planned, you would trust that He also knows the perfect time for it to happen.

First Samuel chapter one tells us the story of Hannah who desperately wanted a child. When God finally opened her womb, she conceived a son who would be Samuel the Prophet and gave him for the service of the Lord. Sometimes what God is doing sets us up for something beyond our understanding.

During your time of waiting for the promise to manifest, allow God to finish you. Yeah, just like making a fine garment, the finishing touches is what makes it beautiful. When I made Stacy’s wedding dress, it was the hand sown pearls on that blasted bodice that took so much time, but until it was all put together and fitted to her perfectly, it wasn’t finished. Gods putting it all together, every pearl, every seam, every part of every promise and it will be a perfect fit to you.

Just wait for it and be excited; your day is almost here.

Sandy G

Let all the poor and broken eat until satisfied. Bring Yahweh praise and you will find him. May your hearts overflow with life forever! Psalm 22:26 TPT

Are you chasing after God for His presence or His provision? It’s not a trick question, it’s a soul searching one. When you come before the Lord, are you always asking for something or laying down everything at His feet just to be with Him?

I have found that when I spend time in God’s presence, I’m satisfied. If I come hungry, He feeds me from His table and I leave full. When I worship Him, He lavishes His love on me until my heart is overwhelmed with joy.

Like a warm fire on a cold night, I want to sit in His peace and warm myself. I won’t relent until I have what I need, His attention with my worship. I am special to Him so I will wait in this place until the breath of His Spirit blows upon me and thrills my soul.

Breathe on me, Lord. Blow away all the worry and cares, the stress and distractions, everything and anything that keeps me from You. It’s all I need. Without it, I may as well call off work and climb back into bed because I know my day will fall apart without You in it.

Sandy G

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good, for we are His lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. Romans 8:28 TPT

Are you convinced? I mean, do you really believe that every detail of your life is continually woven together for good? The good things and the bad things? The ‘mistakes’ and the intentionals? Those times you were hurt? The times you were disappointed? When life blindsided you? Those things you can’t understand because you were believing for something different?

These last few years have made me ask myself every question listed above. Do I trust God with everything in my life? My answer after much thought is a resounding yes. Yes I trust Him with every detail of my life. The choices I’ve made haven’t always been the perfect choice from hindsight, but I can’t trust Him to weave them into something worthwhile.

If I’d never gone through what I have, I would not have a story to share. My life is richer for having placed my hand in His and allow Him to have a say in the things I do. I have sat in His presence so many times with questions I never got an answer for, but when I stopped asking why, I heard His instructions or felt His peace. I heard His whisper that everything was going to be alright.

Things don’t always go as you want it to go, but stop and thank Him for the process. Thank Him for the exercise of your faith, the experience of the trust that’s deepened. This walk with Him isn’t designed to be risk free, rather it’s full of twists and turns, ups and downs as well as scary moments. How else will He get our attention? How else will we run to Him?

Don’t let how you feel keep you from seeing the manifested miracle you’ve been promised. Remember there’s reasons for your seasons. Recognize which one you’re in and praise God in your process.

Sandy G

“I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you. Then the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:12-14 ERV

That’s some pretty strong backing right there! Jesus said that if we ask in his name, he will do it for us. So why is it we don’t see what we ask for? That’s a good question! I believe the answer was penned by James in chapter 4:1-3;

“Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that make war inside you. You want things, but you don’t get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don’t get what you want because you don’t ask God. Or when you ask, you don’t receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.”

I like to go back to when Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” You see, when our prayers are always about ourselves, our benefit, it becomes self focused. But when we focus on others as Jesus did, we become givers. Our example is Jesus. He always gave, didn’t he? He served others. He gave his life. He healed others. He raised their dead loved ones. He fed the multitude. Do you not see that Jesus wants us to be givers too?

Father, this is the weekend when we think of the sacrifice you made to cover our sins forever. I just want to stop this morning, Good Friday, and say thank you. Thank you for giving me a Savior, Redeemer, an advocate. I give you my heart and soul for service in your great kingdom. I ask with a clean heart, because that’s what Jesus did, he cleansed me from all unrighteousness. He forever took my guilt, my shame and my blame so that I could freely come to your throne and obtain grace and mercy. Use these hands to touch others in ways that only you can do through me. It’s in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen

Sandy G

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Daniel 11:32

Rise up worshipping warriors and decree healing to the bruised and broken, strength to the weary, peace to those in turmoil. The enemy is real but victory belongs to the King. Let us arise and declare the power of our Lord. Let us speak life and not death, blessing and not cursing. Pray this over your family and yourself today.

He is our place of safety, we trust in Him. He will certainly save us from hidden traps and from deadly sickness, He will cover us with His wings. Under the feathers of His wings we will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep us safe like a shield or a tower. You won’t be afraid of the terrors that come during the night. You won’t fear the arrows that come during the day. We won’t have to fear sickness that attacks in the darkness. We won’t have to fear the plague that destroys at noon. A thousand may fall dead at your side, ten thousand may fall near your right hand but NO harm will come to you. You will see with your own eyes how God punishes the sinful people but that is not you.

The Lord is the one who keeps you safe. So let the Most high God be like a home to you, then no harm will come to you. No terrible plague will come near your tent. The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you, they will lift you up in their hands. Then you won’t trip over stone. You will walk all over lions and cobras. You will crush mighty lions and poisonous snakes. The Lord says, “I will save the one who loves me. I will keep him safe because she trusts in me. She will call out to me and I will answer her. I will be with her in times of trouble. I will save and honor her. I will give her a long and full life. I will save her. (Psalm 91 personalized)

But I’ll keep coming closer and closer to you, Lord Yahweh, for your name is good to me. I’ll keep telling the world of your awesome works, my faithful and glorious God! Psalm 73:28 Passion Translation

I was going to post this in another version this morning, but as I read this, I fell in love with the line, “for your name is good to me.” What part of His name has been good to you? There are so many to list and I simply don’t know how to spell them all or I’d make the attempt, but let me say this; there is no other name on earth that does what His names do for me.

The closer I get to God, the more I realize how little I know of Him. As I’ve needed Him in certain areas, I’ve learned those aspects of Him in my life. First as Father when my own dad was killed at a very young age. I stepped into His arms and He’s never released His hold on me. That has changed my life and the way I see Him. I believe until we understand that He is indeed Love, we will never understand who He is or why He sent His son for us to restore a very broken relationship.

Everything He does is motivated by that deep and abiding love. His healing touch, His constant provision, His direction and positioning, His protection and so very much more.

When I snuggle close to Father, there’s absolutely nothing I’m afraid of. There’s a trust that only comes from deep intimacy, and there’s deep intimacy that only comes by deep fellowship, and deep fellowship only comes with time spent and love shared, and shared love only comes from trust. See the cycle? You can’t have one without all the others.

When was the last time you sat snuggled close to Father? Take time this morning to snuggle!

Sandy G

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “Look, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, from the tribe of Judah. (Uri was the son of Hur.) And he has filled Bezalel with the Spirit of God—he gave Bezalel special skill and knowledge to do all kinds of things. Exodus 35:30-31

Bezalel had skill. He was one of the first noted that was filled with the Spirit of God and given special skill and knowledge on how to do things. This man could do anything! He could work with metal and wood, cut and set stone and jewels, make things out of gold. The man could even weave things with designs in them. Amazing!

This same Spirit that filled Bezalel lives in you. I keep thinking how God revealed to Peter that He doesn’t consider one person better than others (Acts 10:34). In His eyes, we’re all equal. We all have the same access to the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. We simply must believe, open ourselves up to Him and allow His Spirit to teach us.

You and I, we have special skills available that only God can give and only His Spirit can show us how to use. You may not feel like you do, but it’s true. The problem doesn’t lie in the skill, the problem is we don’t believe. For so many years we’ve allowed the deceiver to convince us we can’t so we don’t.

What would you do differently today if you knew it was possible? Matthew 19:26, Jesus said, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Stop trying to make things happen and spend time in the presence of God. Allow the Spirit to show you things and activate the special skills He’s given you.

Father, this morning I choose to sit in Your presence and worship You. Activate special skills in me. In myself I can do nothing, but in You I can do anything. I give You access to everything in me. Guard my heart and mind so that I don’t believe the lies of the enemy. May I measure every thought and hold it up against Your Word. If it’s contrary, I will cast it down, if it’s agreeable, I will believe. It’s in Jesus’ name and for Your glory I pray, Amen.

Sandy G

Some of you may be facing a pretty tall mountain today. Let me just put it into perspective for you; That mountain you see is like a speck of dust to God. He is bigger than that!

This morning, the Lord dropped this into my spirit and I wanted to share it:

Zechariah 4:6-7 NASB: Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel (Sandy) saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel (Sandy) you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’” (revised by me)

Then he replied, “This is the word the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t ⌞succeed⌟ by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Armies. What a high mountain you are! In front of Zerubbabel you will become a plain. He will bring out the topmost stone with shouts of ‘Blessings, blessings on it!’ ” GW Translation

Whatever it is, speak ‘grace, grace’ or ‘blessings, blessings’ to it. It has to respond to the grace of God. His powerful word works! You don’t have to earn it, deserve it, work for it, it’s free and He says if you call on Him, He will answer. You call. He answers. Done deal!

Now just praise Him! Lift up your hands and praise Him! He’s not done with you.

Sandy G

“Listen to my words,” Jesus said. “Anyone who leaves his home behind and chooses me over children, parents, family, and possessions, all for the sake of the gospel, it will come back to him a hundred times as much in this lifetime—homes, family, mothers, brothers, sisters, children, possessions—along with persecutions. And in the age to come, he will inherit eternal life. But many who are considered to be the most important now will be the least important then. And many who are viewed as the least important now will be considered the most important then.” Mark 10:29-31 TPT

Have you ever received a check in the mail for $10,000? As you look it over, you see some key words like; call to activate or non-negotiable. What began by looking like a blessing is just a gimac to get you in debt. You have to pay attention to the whole thing, not just what it looks like.

As I read this message from Jesus, I wondered how many people have skipped over those words, along with persecutions? We have a tendency to focus on the ‘good’ stuff, but there’s always stipulations, aren’t there? Like the rich young ruler in verses 17-23 when he asked what he must do to obtain eternal life. He was a good man, followed all the laws, but when Jesus said, “Sell all you have and give to the poor,” he walked away. Because sometimes what He asks of us is just too much.

We want the good stuff, but we don’t want to do anything to get it. We believe in our covenant promises, but when He asks us to do something first, it’s just too much. Why is that? Jesus gave everything, including his life, how is it so hard to lay down our all for the Kingdom?

I hope this gives you pause today. Something to think on as you go throughout your day. There’s a price to pay for the choices we’ve made. The 100 times back in this lifetime is awesome, but it comes with persecutions. Some people would just rather not. Is that you?

Sandy G