Through Pain and Trouble - Trust

TASTE AND SEE THAT I AM GOOD.

The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness.

I am the Living One who sees you and longs to participate in your life.

I am training you to find Me in each moment and to be a channel of My loving Presence.

Sometimes My blessings come to you in mysterious ways: through pain and trouble.

At such times you can know My goodness only through your trust in Me.

Understanding will fail you, but trust will keep you close to Me.

Thank Me for the gift of My Peace, a gift of such immense proportions that you cannot fathom its depth or breadth.

When I appeared to My disciples after the resurrection, it was Peace that I communicated first of all.

I knew this was their deepest need: to calm their fears and clear their minds.

I also speak Peace to you, for I know your anxious thoughts.

Listen to Me!

Tune out other voices, so that you can hear Me more clearly.

I designed you to dwell in Peace all day, every day.

Draw near to Me; receive My Peace.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong !

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
—PSALM 34: 8

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
—JOHN 20: 19

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
—COLOSSIANS 3: 15

I am taking care of you

I AM TAKING CARE OF YOU.

Trust Me at all times.

Trust Me in all circumstances.

Trust Me with all your heart.

When you are weary and everything seems to be going wrong, you can still utter these four words: "I trust You, Jesus."

By doing so, you release matters into My control, and you fall back into the security of My everlasting arms.

Before you arise from your bed in the morning, I have already arranged the events of your day.

Every day provides many opportunities for you to learn My ways and grow closer to Me.

Signs of My Presence brighten even the dullest day when you have eyes that really see.

Search for Me as for hidden treasure. I will be found by you.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."
—PROVERBS 3: 5

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, "Destroy him!"
—DEUTERONOMY 33: 27

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,"declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,"declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."
—JEREMIAH 29: 13–14

Troubles lose their power

STOP TRYING TO WORK THINGS OUT before their times have come.

Accept the limitations of living one day at a time.

When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today's agenda.

If it isn't, release it into My care and go on about today's duties.

When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time.

A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered.

When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lose their power over you.

Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world.

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace.

-  "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." —ECCLESIASTES 3: 1

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
—JOHN 16: 33

Renewal of the mind

BE STILL IN MY PRESENCE, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention.

Nothing is as important as spending time with Me.

While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind.

If you skimp on this time with Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the richness of what I have planned for you.

Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you.

Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you.

Though I delight in blessing My children, I am deeply grieved when My blessings become idols in their hearts.

Anything can be an idol if it distracts you from Me as your First Love.

When I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry.

As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of Glory!

-"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!!

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
—ROMANS 12: 2

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."
—REVELATION 2: 4

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
—COLOSSIANS 1:3

Resurgence of Hope

WAITING ON ME means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do.

It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being, instead of trying to figure things out yourself.

Waiting on Me is the way I designed you to live: all day, every day.

I created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your daily duties.

I have promised many blessings to those who wait on Me: renewed strength, living above one's circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness of My continual Presence.

Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do My will.

It also helps you to enjoy Me; in My Presence is fullness of Joy.

"Jesus Calling"

"I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
—LAMENTATIONS 3: 24–26

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
—ISAIAH 40: 31

"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." —PSALM 16: 11 NKJV

Grateful Heart

LET THANKFULNESS TEMPER ALL YOUR THOUGHTS.

A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me.

I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty.

Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin.

Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life.

Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances.

Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
—1 CORINTHIANS 10: 10

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire."
—HEBREWS 12: 28–29

Do not Fear; I will help you

THIS IS A TIME in your life when you must learn to let go: of loved ones, of possessions, of control.

In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete.

Take time to bask in the Light of My Love.

As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possession into My care.

You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence.

The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever.

As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your hand.

Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstance can take from you.

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD."
—PSALM 89: 15

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
—HEBREWS 13: 8

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
—ISAIAH 41: 13

Your Heart Today

A good friend of mine forwarded this amazing prayer today and I thought it was well worth passing along! 

I hope you enjoy it and I pray it has the same effect on your heart and day that it had on mine!

:)

Your Heart Today
by Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ

Where there is fear I can allay,
Where there is pain I can heal,
Where there are wounds I can bind,
And hunger I can fill:

Lord, grant me courage,
Lord, grant me strength,
Grant me compassion
That I may be your heart today.

Where there is hate I can confront,
Where there are yokes I can release,
Where there are captives I can free
And anger I can appease:

Lord, grant me courage,
Lord, grant me strength,
Grant me compassion
That I may be your heart today.

When comes the day I dread
To see our broken world,
Protect me from myself grown cold
That your people I may behold.

And when I've done all that I could,
Yet, there are hearts I cannot move,
Lord, give me hope,
That I may be your heart today.

Stay Strong!!

Strengthened Faith

I AM A GOD of both intricate detail and overflowing abundance.

When you entrust the details of your life to Me, you are surprised by how thoroughly I answer your petitions.

I take pleasure in hearing your prayers, so feel free to bring Me all your requests.
The more you pray, the more answers you can receive.

Best of all, your faith is strengthened as you see how precisely I respond to your specific prayers.

Because I am infinite in all My ways, you need not fear that I will run out of resources.

Abundance is at the very heart of who I AM.

Come to Me in joyful expectation of receiving all you need—and sometimes much more!

I delight in showering blessings on My beloved children.

Come to Me with open hands and heart, ready to receive all I have for you.

"Jesus Calling "

Stay Strong!

"How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. —PSALM 36: 7–9

"I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food."
—PSALM 132: 15

"When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
—JOHN 6: 12–14

Grateful Trusting hearts

REJOICE AND BE THANKFUL!

As you walk with Me through this day, practice trusting and thanking Me all along the way.

Trust is the channel through which My Peace flows into you.

Thankfulness lifts you up above your circumstances.

I do My greatest works through people with grateful, trusting hearts.

Rather than planning and evaluating, practice trusting and thanking Me continually.

This is a paradigm shift that will revolutionize your life.

"Jesus Calling "

Stay Strong!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
—PHILIPPIANS 4: 4

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.
—PSALM 95: 1–2

Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
—PSALM 9: 10

Trust Me and Don't be Afraid

TRUST ME AND DON'T BE AFRAID, for I am your Strength and Song.

Think what it means to have Me as your Strength.

I spoke the universe into existence; My Power is absolutely unlimited!

Human weakness, consecrated to Me, is like a magnet, drawing My Power into your neediness.

However, fear can block the flow of My Strength into you.

Instead of trying to fight your fears, concentrate on trusting Me.

When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you.

Remember that I am also your Song.

I want you to share My Joy, living in conscious awareness of My Presence.

Rejoice as we journey together toward heaven; join Me in singing My Song.

"Jesus Calling "

Stay Strong!!

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation."With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." —ISAIAH 12: 2–3

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence."
—PSALM 21: 6

I Will Not Be Shaken.

SAVE ME, O GOD

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.

I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."

As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.

The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16: 1-11

Stay Strong!

Lifting you up

I SPEAK TO YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF YOUR BEING.

Hear Me saying soothing words of Peace, assuring you of My Love.

Do not listen to voices of accusation, for they are not from Me.

I speak to you in lovetones, lifting you up.

My Spirit convicts cleanly, without crushing words of shame.

Let the Spirit take charge of your mind, combing out tangles of deception.

Be transformed by the truth that I live within you.

The Light of My Presence is shining upon you, in benedictions of Peace.

Let My Light shine in you; don't dim it with worries or fears.

Holiness is letting Me live through you.

Since I dwell in you, you are fully equipped to be holy.

Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you.

Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me; this is atheistic living.

I want to inhabit all your moments—gracing your thoughts, words, and behavior.

- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!!

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." —ROMANS 8: 1–2

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
—COLOSSIANS 1: 27

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own."
—1 CORINTHIANS 6: 19

For Tomorrow will worry about itself

TRUST ME ONE DAY AT A TIME.

This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will.

Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded.

My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor.

Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting.

Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances.

Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence.

I will equip you to get through this day victoriously, as you live in deep dependence on Me.

Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in its worry-webs.

Trust Me one day at a time.

- "Jesus Calling"

"O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
   —PSALM 84: 12

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
   —MATTHEW 6: 34

Possibility is Powerful!!

"...with God all things are possible."
(Matthew 19:26, NIV)

God promises that with Him, all things are possible!

Possibility is powerful!

Possibility means you aren't limited.

It means you have options.

No matter how you may feel right now, you aren't stuck and you aren't confined to your circumstances.

No, you have a door of possibility in front of you, the question is: will you walk through it?

How do you walk through that door of possibility?

By placing your faith in Him.

By trusting that He is at work even when you can't see it.

By praying and believing and worshiping Him in the good times and bad.

Today, meditate on the fact that God has the power and ability to restore broken families, He can restore lost dreams and work miracles beyond what you could ever imagine in the natural.

Choose to trust, choose to believe, look for His goodness and know that with God, all things are possible!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for choosing me and using me for your glory. I rest in knowing that my life is in Your hands. I choose to trust, I choose to believe, I choose to walk in Your power knowing that all things are possible with You. In Jesus' Name. Amen!

- J Osteen

I will Never leave you or forsake you

COME TO ME FOR UNDERSTANDING, since I know you far better than you know yourself.

I comprehend you in all your complexity; no detail of your life is hidden from Me.

I view you through eyes of grace, so don't be afraid of My intimate awareness.

Allow the Light of My healing Presence to shine into the deepest recesses of your being—cleansing, healing, refreshing, and renewing you.

Trust Me enough to accept the full forgiveness that I offer you continually.

This great gift, which cost Me My Life, is yours for all eternity.

Forgiveness is at the very core of My abiding Presence.

I will never leave you or forsake you.

When no one else seems to understand you, simply draw closer to Me.

Rejoice in the One who understands you completely and loves you perfectly.

As I fill you with My Love, you become a reservoir of love, overflowing into the lives of other people.

Stay Strong!!

"O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD." —PSALM 139: 1–4

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."
—2 CORINTHIANS 1: 21–22

"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."
—JOSHUA 1: 5

...so what are you worried about?

IT IS GOOD THAT YOU RECOGNIZE YOUR WEAKNESS.

That keeps you looking to Me, your Strength.

Abundant life is not necessarily health and wealth; it is living in continual dependence on Me.

Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing.

This mind-set will free you to enjoy Me and to find what I have planned for you to do.

This is far better than trying to make things go according to your own plan.

Don't take yourself so seriously.

Lighten up and laugh with Me.

You have Me on your side, so what are you worried about?

I can equip you to do absolutely anything, as long as it is My will.

The more difficult your day, the more I yearn to help you.

Anxiety wraps you up in yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts.

When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help.

Focus on Me, and you will find Peace in My Presence.

"Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me. I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency.
—PHILIPPIANS 4: 13 AMP

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." —PROVERBS 17: 22

Knock and the door will be opened to you

LISTEN TO THE LOVE SONG that I am continually singing to you.

I take great delight in you.

I rejoice over you with singing.

The voices of the world are a cacophony of chaos, pulling you this way and that.

Don't listen to those voices; challenge them with My Word.

Learn to take minibreaks from the world, finding a place to be still in My Presence and listen to My voice.

There is immense hidden treasure to be found through listening to Me.

Though I pour out blessings upon you always, some of My richest blessings have to be actively sought.

I love to reveal Myself to you, and your seeking heart opens you up to receive more of My disclosure.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Stay Strong!

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." —ZEPHANIAH 3: 17

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
—MATTHEW 7: 7

Peace for your troubled mind and heart

LEARN TO LIVE above your circumstances.

This requires focused time with Me, the One who overcame the world.

Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of this perishing world.

Only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems with good cheer.

As you sit quietly in My Presence, I shine Peace into your troubled mind and heart.
Little by little, you are freed from earthly shackles and lifted up above your circumstances.

You gain My perspective on your life, enabling you to distinguish between what is important and what is not.

Rest in My Presence, receiving Joy that no one can take away from you.

-- "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
  —JOHN 16: 33 NKJV

"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."
   —JOHN 16: 22

Patience

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37: 7)

Have you prayed and prayed, and waited and waited, and still you see no evidence of an answer?

Are you tired of seeing no movement?

Are you at the point of giving up?

Then perhaps you have not waited in the right way, which removes you from the right place—the place where the Lord can meet you.

"Wait for it patiently"(Rom. 8: 25).

Patience eliminates worry.

The Lord said He would come, and His promise is equal to His presence.

Patience eliminates weeping. Why feel sad and discouraged? He knows your needs better than you do, and His purpose in waiting is to receive more glory through it.

Patience eliminates self-works.

"The work of God is this: to believe"(John 6: 29), and once you believe, you may know all is well.

Patience eliminates all want.

Perhaps your desire to receive what you want is stronger than your desire for the will of God to be fulfilled.

Patience eliminates all weakness.

Instead of thinking of waiting as being wasted time, realize that God is preparing His resources and strengthening you as well.

Patience eliminates all wobbling.

"He touched me and raised me to my feet"(Dan. 8: 18). God's foundations are steady, and when we have His patience within, we are steady while we wait.

Patience yields worship.

Stay Strong !

Sometimes the best part of praiseful waiting is experiencing "great endurance and patience . . . joyfully"(Col. 1: 11).

While you wait, "let [all these aspects of] patience have her perfect work"(James 1: 4 KJV), and you will be greatly enriched.
    ---C. H. P.

Hold steady when the fires burn, When inner lessons come to learn, And from this path there seems no turn—"Let patience have her perfect work."
   -  L. S. P.

Limitless Strength

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT.

As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do for you.

If you live your life too safely, you will never know the thrill of seeing Me work through you.

When I gave you My Spirit, I empowered you to live beyond your natural ability and strength.

That's why it is so wrong to measure your energy level against the challenges ahead of you.

The issue is not your strength but Mine, which is limitless.

By walking close to Me, you can accomplish My purposes in My strength.
    "Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
    —2 CORINTHIANS 5: 7 NKJV

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
   —GALATIANS 5: 25

Utterly Secure...

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME—and beyond time, into eternity.

No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven.

I want you to realize how utterly secure you are!

Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.

Knowing that your future is absolutely assured can free you to live abundantly today.

I have prepared this day for you with the most tender concern and attention to detail.

Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode: being on the lookout for all that I am doing.

This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect.

"- Jesus Calling"

Stay Strong!!

"If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand."
—PSALM 37: 23–24

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him."
—PSALM 18: 30

Become saturated with My Power

REST IN MY RADIANT PRESENCE.

The world around you seems to spin faster and faster, till everything is a blur.

Yet there is a cushion of calm at the center of your life, where you live in union with Me.

Return to this soothing Center as often as you can, for this is where you are energized: filled with My Love, Joy, and Peace.

The world is a needy place; do not go there for sustenance.

Instead, come to Me.

Learn to depend on Me alone, and your weakness will become saturated with My Power.

When you find your completeness in Me, you can help other people without using them to meet your own needs.

Live in the Light of My Presence, and your light will shine brightly into the lives of others.

    - "Jesus Calling"

Happy Monday and Stay Strong!!!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness."
—GALATIANS 5: 22

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
—1 JOHN 4: 12

Have you Prayed about it?

Have You Prayed About It?

When my father was a young minister back in the 1950's, he would travel from town to town speaking at small churches and conventions, and he carried his own sound equipment in the trunk of his car.

One evening, he arrived a couple of hours early at the auditorium where he was going to preach to get everything setup.

Several hundred people were expected that night, which was a big deal for my father at the time.

He wanted it to all go perfectly.

But in the midst of the excitement, he accidentally locked his keys in the trunk of his car and couldn't get the sound equipment out.

He and some other people started working on the trunk, shaking it and jiggling it. They tried using a coat hanger to get it open.

No success.

It looked like his big evening was ruined.

Just when he was about to give up, it dawned on him that he hadn't prayed yet.

One thing I can tell you about my father is that he knew how to pray bold prayers.

He wasn't ashamed to pray about anything.

Growing up, he would pray over the lawnmower, over the dishwasher, over anything that wouldn't work.

My father told all the people standing there that he was going to pray and ask God to help him open the trunk.

They looked at him strangely. That seemed so far out.

They were thinking, "You can't pray for a trunk to open."

But my father did. He said, "God, I know there is nothing too hard for You. Lord, I need this sound equipment for my meeting tonight. I'm asking You to somehow, someway help me get it open."

While he was praying, the people watching were kind of snickering and making fun under their breath.

When he finished praying, he went over to the trunk and shook it and jiggled it even harder, but it still wouldn't open.

He turned and walked away.

When he got about ten feet from the car, everyone heard a click. They looked back, and all on its own, that trunk began to slowly open up just like it was saying, "Hallelujah!"

Those other people nearly passed out, and my father had one of the best meetings of his life that night. 

Today, like my father, maybe you are in a circumstance that seems beyond your control.

Maybe you've asked others for help and tried everything you could.

I'm asking you today, have you prayed about it?

God cares about every need that you have, the big things and the small things.
He cares about opening a trunk, turning around your health, helping your child, your finances and fulfilling your dreams.

Don't ever think that something is too small to pray about it.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
- (Philippians 4:6, NIV)

....Joel Osteen

Too great to handle on your own...

LET ME HELP YOU through this day.

The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone.

You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face.

This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence.

Actually, this choice is continually before you, but difficulties highlight the decision-making process.

So, consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials.

These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone.

Stay Strong

"Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."
   —PSALM 63: 7–8

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience."
  —JAMES 1: 2–3 AMP

And Never lets go of your hand

CONTINUE ON THIS PATH WITH ME, enjoying My Presence - especially in adversity.

I am always before you, as well as alongside you.

See Me beckoning to you: Come! Follow Me.

The One who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never lets go of your hand.

I am not subject to limitations of time or space.

I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf.

That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me.

Stay Strong!

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
   —HEBREWS 7: 25

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
—PSALM 37: 3–4

Trust or Defy

MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE.

Though many things feel random and wrong, remember that I am sovereign over everything.

I can fit everything into a pattern for good, but only to the extent that you trust Me.

Every problem can teach you something, transforming you little by little into the masterpiece I created you to be.

The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall, if you react with distrust and defiance.

The choice is up to you, and you will have to choose many times each day whether to trust Me or defy Me.

The best way to befriend your problems is to thank Me for them.

This simple act opens your mind to the possibility of benefits flowing from your difficulties.

You can even give persistent problems nicknames, helping you to approach them with familiarity rather than with dread.

The next step is to introduce them to Me, enabling Me to embrace them in My loving Presence.

I will not necessarily remove your problems, but My wisdom is sufficient to bring good out of every one of them.

Stay Strong!

"We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose."
   —ROMANS 8: 28

No room for Fear

REFUSE TO WORRY!

In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry.

That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be.
So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind.

The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving.

Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear.

This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective.

Live close to Me!

Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay.

Stay Strong

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"
   —LUKE 12: 25–26

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
   —1 THESSALONIANS 5: 16–18

For who you are

I LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE, not for what you do.

Many voices vie for control of your mind, especially when you sit in silence.

You must learn to discern what is My voice and what is not.

Ask My Spirit to give you this discernment.

Many of My children run around in circles, trying to obey the various voices directing their lives.

This results in fragmented, frustrating patterns of living.

Do not fall into this trap.

Walk closely with Me each moment, listening for My directives and enjoying My Companionship.

Refuse to let other voices tie you up in knots.

My sheep know My voice and follow Me wherever I lead.

Stay Strong!

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
    —EPHESIANS 4: 1–6

"When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice."
    —JOHN 10: 4

Trust brings many Blessings

WHEN SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE OR THOUGHTS makes you anxious, come to Me and talk about it.

Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying:

"Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust You more."

Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace.

I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me.

The world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems.

My Peace, however, is such an all-encompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances.

Forget all else, if you gain My Peace, you are rich indeed.

Stay Strong!!

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
   —PHILIPPIANS 4: 6 NASB

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
       —ISAIAH 26: 3

You are on the Right Path

YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH.

Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts.

I am leading you along the way I designed just for you.

Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking.

But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone.

Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others.

I am revealing to you the path of Life day by day, and moment by moment.

As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to you: Follow Me.

Stay Strong

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.'
   —PSALM 119: 105

"Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
   —JOHN 21: 22