I am only as close to God as I choose to be...*GULP*

I must desire friendship with God more than anything. We all have problems in our lives. Your problems are not punishment; they are wake-up calls from a loving God. God's way of arousing us from spiritual lethargy. Our problems cause pain. Pain is God's metaphor. Pain is fuel of passion. Because pain causes to us refuse to except things the way they are and find change.
Taken from The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

In my reading this morning I definitely got the idea that I am not being punished for my mistakes. God will use my circumstances for good. God allows things in our life based on what's best for us. God wants me to rely on him for strength and to depend on my husband to bring about change (pray in agreement).

The process of losing my home is a result of poor financial planning; mistakes we made. This has of course caused a lot of stress and pain. Could the Lord have rescued us? Sure. Remember it isn't a matter of can he but is it his will for us. The Lord allows things to happen in our lives that reflect the best interests for us. He uses every circumstance for good. Could the Lord arranged things to prevent an approval for this home to begin with? Sure. But, the point is God knew how it would turn out and where he would be able to take us in spiritual maturity if he allowed this in our lives. So even though I have experienced pain through this trial, does that mean I am being punished? No. I wasn't always so convinced though. I thought I would have to pay for my mistakes. Not so. There are consequences that have been paid. Where we go from here is up to us. We can decide to toil and work and worry to fix this or we can give it all to Jesus and let him use this situation for his glory and to stretch us. We have surrendered this situation to Jesus completely and are relying on him for open doors, miracles, and restoration.

The focus at church has been on miracles for the last several weeks and the power in the name of Jesus. There are several areas in my life where God has been working: surrendering, submission, loving others, finding joy, praying in agreement with my husband, and expectation/faith. Here are scriptures I came across in my reading this morning alone that only confirm all that Jesus is trying to get through to me.

Matthew 18:19 NLT "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them."

Praying in agreement. My husband and I were at a marriage conference recently also where Ephram prophesied over us. He explained that when we pray in agreement, mountains will be moved. My husband and I recently prayed for a specific miracle and we are already beginning to see doors open for that miracle to happen. We can almost touch it!

Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength, my shield from every danger. I trust in him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

Surrender, why not? I have nothing to fear and when I put my trust in him my worries will be replaced with joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength. But, where does joy come from? From trusting in him! Surrendering. When we surrender, our toils and worries are replaced with joy!

John 8:12 NLT
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."

The darkness here means so many things. You won't walk in the darkness of the world, the ugly, the sin, etc. For me at this point in time, the darkness means, I won't be wandering the world aimlessly, he will direct my life. If I follow him, surrender, I will know what to do. He will shed light on the right doors that lead to the future he has for me.

John 15:9-17
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."

So many things that God has been trying to say to me are summed up in those verses. I used to find myself wondering how God directs us, how he speaks to us, how do we hear him? Well let me tell you! Read his word! I can't explain it but you read it and it settles well with you, you find peace and you know exactly what God is trying to say to you.

This blog is literally my journal, my prayer life online, my conversations with God. It all makes perfect sense to me. I pray that the Holy Spirit supernaturally intervene to bring revelation into your hearts, that he speak to you through my journey, and you receive.