Encouraging Notes

Grace is God’s undeserved favor and power to live the abundant life Jesus died to give us. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life, and that more abundantly.” John 10:10 Those words from Jesus are a description of what the grace of God is like. God intends for you and me to live in the abundance of who he is. He wants you to live your moments filled with joy, peace, and all other attributes that his love produces. But not all those who claim Christianity experience God’s abundant life. As a matter of fact, many live in bondage to fear, depression, addiction, bitterness, and the like. Therefore, even as a Christian, it is possible to miss the incredible life of God’s grace.

Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

So we see that it is possible to fall short of the grace of God. The opposite of God’s grace is living by our own works and self-will. When God’s grace dominates our lives, we rest from our works and live resting in his righteousness. Just as God rested on the seventh day from the work of creating the universe, so we must rest inside of God’s grace.

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

Many go to church every Sunday and even read their Bible every day but fail to live in the wonderful life God has promised. Why is that? The writer of Hebrews goes on to say, “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them because those who heard did not combine it with faith. 3 Now, we who have believed enter that rest. Heb 4:2-3a

Accessing the rest of God is not something that happens by accident, just as becoming a born-again Christian is not an accident. Grace for salvation and for living God’s abundant life is obtained only through faith.

Romans 10:9 For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God so that no one can boast.

Grace is accessed by faith. Though God promised the children of Israel a land of rest – a land that flowed with milk and honey, they were unable to enter because of their unbelief.

Hebrews 3:19 So we see that they were not able to enter because of their unbelief.

I often contend that the most important word in the Bible is the word believe or faith. Without it, the life Jesus died to give us is unreachable. One of the essential keys for living by faith is the key of childlike faith. We must believe God just like a little child believes their father. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Mat 18:3.

The greatest danger as a Christian is trying to figure out God or live the Christian life outside of God’s power in our life. Simple, childlike faith is non-negotiable for a Christian who will live in God’s grace.

As we see the end times unfolding before our very eyes, the importance of believing God cannot be overstated. The abundant life that God offers us must be displayed to the world, and it is not what we say that makes the biggest difference; it is how we live. Can people experience the abundant life of heaven when they are around you? Are you living the blessed life of being loved, forgiven, and free – the life of God’s grace?

Oh, my dear friend, today is the day for your faith to go to another level!

Remember, the word of God revealed to you by the Holy Spirit it is what produces faith. Are you taking time to soak in God’s precious word? Are you taking time to listen to the precious voice of the Holy Spirit?

Beyond all question, living inside of God’s extraordinary grace is for you…

DON’T MISS IT

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King David was a man who was humble before the Lord and who chose to trust God and God alone! Because of this, God’s anointing was upon him, and the hand of the Lord was with him mightily!

2 Samuel 5:10 And he (David) became more and more powerful because the Lord God Almighty was with him.

The favor David had on his life is also for you. David accessed that favor through his spirit of humility and faith in God. Like David, all those who are humble and will trust God will see God act on their behalf! Look at this:

1 Chronicles 4:9-10 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

The most honoring thing we can do for God is to believe him! “And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Heb 11:6

Jesus told us that his kingdom is accessed by those who have the faith of a little child. Only a humble heart can believe God. Our greatest tenancy is to trust in our works or our abilities. You can be sure that before God’s favor comes upon a person’s life, they will be humble enough to believe God above anything else, and this is what truly honors God. David’s son, Solomon, said it like this:

The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33 (AMP)

Proverbs 18:12 Before his downfall, a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Are you ready for more of God’s favor in your life? Remember, God is looking for a heart that is humble enough to relinquish all trust in self and that fully receives what God has said. My dear friend, my prayer for you today is that you will humbly receive God’s love and provision of righteousness for you today! I pray that you will believe God more than ever before and that, like King David, God’s will anointing will also…

BE UPON YOU!

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Jesus wasn’t kidding when he said, “Do Not Worry!” Worrying produces the opposite of the outcome desired! In other words, worrying about provision brings more lack. Worrying about protection brings more danger. Faith in God is what draws to us the things we need! It is interesting that what Job worried about the most came upon him. What I always feared has happened to me. “What I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25 The whole idea of worry is crazy! You want help but do the opposite of what will bring it – Worry! And at one point or another, we are all guilty. I love Jesus’ words here in Matthew.

Matthew 6:31-34 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat? ’ or ‘What shall we drink? ’ or ‘What shall we wear? ’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

God has called us to walk by faith! We are Believers – we must believe! What a concept. :-) We must set our minds on the love and provision of God and never give in to those self-defeating thoughts of defeat, fear, and failure! Worry is putting our faith in the negative things that are threatening to come against our lives. Fear always says, what if, but faith always says, God is. When we have solidified in our hearts the truth of God’s love for us and his continual presence with us, fear gets kicked to the curb, and protection and provision become our lot! Total reliance upon God is the key that unlocks God’s goodness in our life.

So, what do you say? Are you ready? Are you ready to destroy negativity, lies, and excuses? Are you ready to step out and just believe? Yes, Yes, Yes you can! The secret to a life of faith is living every moment inside of the truth of God’s love and grace. Is he with you? Yes! Does he love you? Yes! Will he make a way? Yes! The devil is a liar! He will always try to lure you into believing the bad report. God is everything you need, and with him, all things are possible!

Psalm 60:12 With God’s help, we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Cheer up! God is well able to handle your situation! Resolve in your mind that he is with you, will never leave you, and that he is in love with you! I promise you; God has this! If you will believe, you can be sure his protection and provision are…

HEADED YOUR WAY! I

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Wow! Talk about exciting! God has released to us some fantastic news that seems almost too good to be true! It makes me wanna shout! Check This Out!

Rom 5:6-11 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person, someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (NLT)

If he loved and wanted you when even you didn’t want him and were his enemy, how much more so now when your heart is willing and longing for him! Jesus said, “No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Jn 6:44 In other words, the fact that you have a desire for God is a gift from God; it is God drawing you. This is proof that you are precious to him and that he is drawing you to himself. Look at these beautiful words written by the apostle Paul to Titus.

Titus 3:3-7 At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Go figure! Through Jesus, we have become heirs of God! Hello… This is fantastic! God wants you and me! The fact that you desire to read this is proof that God Almighty has put a desire for him in your heart and is drawing you! Wow! Thank you, Jesus! It is not about how good you are — it’s all about him! God is in love with you!

How unbelievably beautiful and wonderful is that! I pray that you will meditate on this incredible truth and allow it to destroy all negative thoughts that say you are not precious to God! My dearest friend, the love of God for you and me is real, and it is awesome! This profound truth is so heart-warming and exciting! It makes me want to dance and shout and…

THROW A PARTY!

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Sometimes it isn’t easy to wrap our minds around the amazing truth of God’s love. When we hear that God is passionately in love with us, on our side, and will never leave us or forsake us, we can be tempted to look at it as if it’s all a fairytale. We may be tempted to question God, thinking, how could that possibly be? Why, I have failed God so much and have made so many mistakes that it feels like I have done it all wrong compared to God’s righteousness!

When it comes to God loving us and granting us his righteousness, it is paramount that we don’t try to work it up or completely understand it before letting go and receiving it because it is simply beyond our ability to comprehend fully! God wants us just to believe it and receive it!

Psalms 103:10-12 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 86:4-8 Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to you because you answer me. Among the gods, there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.

God not only cares about you – you are everything he has ever wanted! Yes! You are his dream come true! Though this is all true, you cannot tap into its reality unless you believe. Believing is the key that unlocks the door of his reality for you! God is entirely trustworthy; therefore, you can confidently rest your whole existence on the fact that he is never going to leave you or forsake you! Why? Because God has said, “Never will I leave you and never will I forsake you.” Heb 13:5

Because of what God has done for you through Jesus Christ, you can come to God with complete confidence and shameless audacity! Wow!

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Oh, my dear friend, you can, without fear, fully embrace the truth that you are everything God has ever wanted! Oh yes! You are so valuable that even his own Son was not spared in his effort to reconcile you back to himself again. Wow! How unspeakably beautiful!

I know these truths may seem out there and radical, but I promise you, God is not only all we have discussed, but he is more wonderful than you have ever dreamed! I have learned and am convinced that God is a God of extreme love and that he is…

BEYOND FIGURING OUT!

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The importance of receiving specific words from God to us cannot be overstated! God speaks to us in many ways, sometimes directly through his Holy Spirit, sometimes through his Word, sometimes through a person, and still other times through an event or life circumstance. But when he speaks, it is so important not to take it for granted; it is your life!

Deuteronomy 32:45-47 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you--they are your life. By them, you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

One of the greatest privileges you will ever have is recognizing and hearing the voice of God! When you hear, it is of utmost importance that you don’t take it lightly and that you immediately obey what you’ve heard! Remember, delayed obedience is disobedience. Look at the words Solomon gave to his son:

Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

Jesus also spoke on the same subject by saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 The Greek word for proceeds is in the present tense and signifies that God is continually speaking. Think about it; words are continually coming from God’s mouth to us. Wow! How wonderful! God is speaking – are you listening? Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” Jn 10:27

It will take all eternity for you to comprehend the fullness of God’s love for you! He loves you so much that he desires to bless you far more than you want to be blessed! He wants you to know the secrets of living in his abundance in every area of your life! It is so important to take time to quiet your mind to focus on him alone so that you can hear his voice! He is in love with you and is trying to reveal to you the secrets of his kingdom! My dearest friend, it is so important to listen closely because, when God speaks, it’s not only of great importance…

IT’S YOUR LIFE!

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